Working

Working

If you ever get a chance to read other works I've done, I write television reviews, movie reviews, everything geekdom and entertainment, some political, some local and national news; no matter what I do, I contribute to the collective consciousness. I volunteer as a local youth leader, providing countless, unpaid, hours leading, teaching, mentoring young men and women in scouting skills, public speaking, local history. I remain in the community my family has lived in for six generations on both my side and three generations on my wife's side. My wife has been taking college classes during my six year period of traditional unemployment, completing an aborted associates degree, getting her bachelor's degree and two semesters into her master's program. I have sought traditional employment locally but no one has even been interested in a late-30s broken individual. I've not always wore a grey beard, that's a new addition to my face, it has been beneficial to my youth volunteering image. I typically apply for positions through electronic means; e-mail or online applications and I cannot get an interview. Over 200 applications on the light average, and no one is interested in an applicant with at least 10 years managerial experience, accounting, typing at 90 words per minute, proficient in Microsoft software packages, Adobe Professional, Photoshop, video editing experience, dictation, security, bartending, cooking, retail clerk, fast food, roofer, minor home repairs, substance and group counseling, and English Literature and History instructor.

People can blame my appearance, my attitude, my community, the government, the VA, the war, the military, and the Economy. I blame no one. I make money the old fashioned way, I earn it. I list my job as free-lance writer and artist. Last year I made less than $23 with my writing and art. I've only ever sold one painting. I have never received one commission for a painting. I've painted over 85 pieces in the last 6 years. I've written, originally for Associated Content and today, for Yahoo Contributor's Voices, dozens and dozens of articles, look me up, check out some of my work. I share images of my paintings and links to my articles from time to time.

I earn normally $0.03 for about every 100 people that click on one of my articles, not very lucrative is it? But my youngest children are entering high school, my wife is finishing her Master's Degree. I will never find local employment unless some advertises for a broken, jack of all trades guy paying minimum wage, and I'd be happy for it.

Some suggest I get disability, but the government does not agree. I receive a 20% disability from the VA. I have applied twice for further disability classification due to VA psychologist diagnosis of PTSD and have been told by the Social Security people that I am damaged but not damaged enough and by the VA that despite what their doctors say I cannot prove the culpability of the military in the psychological damage I claimed to have encountered, according to their correspondence with me.

What amazes me most, is how upset, how vocal complete strangers are when I answered an assignment. The assignment asked if you are a veteran that has been out of work and having problems finding employment then submit a photograph of yourself with information on your job hunt along with 150-200 words about who you are, where and when you served, how long you have sought employment along with how many jobs, interviews and more. In 200 words, try it. Write 200 words describing anything to be published. It's short. Not a lot of room to explain but the assignment paid $5.00. Just think it only takes about 20 assignments like this one to make $100, which takes a month to get in payment and 15 minutes to spend at the grocery store to feed a wife and three teenaged children. So before you judge take a walk in someone else's combat boots.