TGIF: 12/4/09
Yesterday was, as all the staff of CEC say, a blessed day. Not that it wasn’t utterly frustrating that almost none of the computers in my classroom OR in the so-called resource room were working. And that my classroom was also overcrowded with the influx of a throng of new participants in the BTW program. However, that just meant the rest of us were left to our own devices, had twice as many breaks and didn’t have a bogus end of day in-service. Though I was kind of looking forward to seeing those two sisters and the brother who said they were experts at interviewing get raked over the coals by Mr. Anderson, who is a very intelligent man.
I handed in my job referral to the fake Health First interview and Mr. Anderson told me to take resumes to Elmhurst Hospital and spend the day handing them out around the facility and the neighborhood, wink wink, and then come back just before 5 p.m. to sign in and out. I was mostly doing correspondence about my freelance writing assignments once a working computer did open up. I was scheduling interviews and arranging set visits as well as pulling clothes together for both my coverage of the Red Carpet at the OUTMusic Awards Tuesday night and for my bogus interview Monday. I also have a real interview Thursday, which I secured for myself from an application made to the Center for Justice & Democracy BEFORE I joined the BTW program.
SO, I called upon my uber fabulous fashion-peddling sisters Deb Malkin of Re/Dress and Elisa DeCarlo of Mad Fashionista Enterprises.
Both were extremely gracious about my resquests: Deb said she’d suit me up for my interviews and Elisa said she’d dress me up for the Red Carpet. I went to Re/Dress after werk last night and Deb indeed generously donated a fabulous Abby Z. business suit with camisole, a pair of Ann Taylor loft dress pants, two mix-matching blouses and a winter dress coat. I’m heading over to Elisa’s after werk on Monday to pick out something appropriate for the OUTMusic awards. I have to say that having these sisters come through for me—and having the resources and ability to ask for help—made yesterday bearable.
At 4:50, Mr. Anderson stood before the class and told us that things at CEC were being tightened up, no more relaxed, chill atmosphere because there are now so many people entering the program, CEC is opening up another program on the floor and our class size will increase every single day. This and other evidence such as the long lines wound around the HRA offices all over the city contradict the Dallas News article about the hope about the decreasing jobless rate. The guards at HRA told me that instead of the usual one line in the morning, they have four lines they let in throughout the day and are seeing more people than ever. What lies behind the “Great news” about the jobless rate is simply that so many people don’t file for unemployment, are not qualified for it or are rejected (and I was because I am a freelancer), have run out of UE benefits or have just given up completely. I cannot tell you how many people in the BTW program–particularly women and their children—live in shelters. And, I cannot even imagine what they do for childcare when they are werking from 9-5 five days a week looking for werk at BTW. We were told, at the BTW orientation, that people are swarming into NYC from everywhere else in the US to apply for benefits. I don’t see any evidence of this or understand how anyone who needs public assistance can find or secure housing except in the shelter system. I find many of my BTW colleagues are looking to move AWAY from New York, to be near family, for better job opportunities, a different lifestyle, quality of life and cost of living.
Ok, I have repetitive stress injury/strain of my wrists because we don’t have even mouse pads let alone any other ergonomic equipment at BTW…my hands and wrists hurt like hell and I’ve got a lot of other writing and computer work to do later today, so I’ll wrap it up. Have a blessed day and thanks for reading. I’m going to take a hot shower and put on jeans, a T-shirt and my cowboy boots!
Werking Gerl 