Trying To Relax But Failing

I forgot to mention in my last post that Branden and I also went to the Butterfly House with my friend, Jeremy. It was a good time and we have pictures that are still sitting on the camera. I'll probably post a few sometime in the future. I also need to mention that this past Sunday we had an amazing time at The City Museum. It's an incredible place and I'd like to write all about it, but in my current state of mind... I just won't be able to express the wonder that is The City Museum. I promise I'll write more about it later- probably after we've made a return trip and I have some pictures to post.

At the moment, I am stressed. We moved here with the intention of getting jobs and getting back on track. I've managed to find a job that pays the same amount I was getting before I was laid off with guaranteed hours and future benefits. Branden has so far been unable to find a job. Things have been complicated by the fact that he traded his truck for a car that cannot at this time pass a safety inspection and, until it is fixed, is unsafe to drive. So we are trying to fix the car and we're doing it as inexpensively as we can- Branden's friend helped him replace the axle and he's found someone who will help him fix the ball joint for a trade instead of money- but that doesn't change the fact that we are still spending money we don't really have to get it working before our month's grace period is up and I am the only one bringing in a paycheck.

Before anyone judges Branden harshly, he does have an interview this Friday and he's been guaranteed another interview with a local school district. But the school district job could take a total of up to eight weeks before he even knows if he's hired or not and this interview on Friday is one of the first companies to contact him after he's sent his resume. I don't know if there just aren't as many computer jobs as he was led to believe, if there are just tons of computer people out of work right now, or if Branden's resume just isn't put together in such a way that draws interest. It could just be that he doesn't have a degree and other applicants do. He definitely has the experience and I know he's been trying to find a job.

Lots of other people are also out of work. I suppose that I'm just lucky to have a fairly uncommon skill. I've been told over and over that cake decorators are a dying breed. I'm thankful that I have a marketable skill- and also that I actually find some satisfaction in my job- but I'm pretty stressed about Branden's lack of job. This unplanned one-income household thing is not easy. There's a good chance that the car will be fixed today and Branden will be able to go get a job- any job- to tide us over until he can get the job he really wants. We agreed that even a temporary, part-time, minimum wage job would be better than nothing. I told him that I know it's not fair for him that he may have to work a job he hates but it's only until he's able to get the job he wants... Unfortunately, that's what we've come to.

I'm doing my best not to stress but... I'm not very good at not stressing.