Unemployment Extension

Never did I think that I would be on the unemployment line with millions of other Americans, but that doesn't even compare to the blow that was just delivered when the bill for the unemployment extension was voted down.  I keep trying to read up on what is going on, but in all honesty it just ticks me off.

I hear and read over and over that people like myself and my fiance, that have been unemployed for what seems like forever, have given up on our job search.  Maybe this is true of some people that are abusing the system, but that happens with all government systems.  There are those of us that do want to work, and look for work daily. I can only assume that this ignorance is coming from those who are employed and don't know anyone that hasn't been able to find a job.  

I know personally that I look for work everyday, and I have landed maybe 5 interviews in over a year and a half (and this is with the help of a temp agency).  I have heard that I am over qualified, under qualified, and that I live too far from certain companies.  In the small town I live in, there is next to nothing, so I look for work in surrounding areas.  Some interviewers just don't believe that you will actually drive an hour an a half from home for next to no money.  Even as you assure them that this isn't the case, they still would prefer to find someone that lives around the corner.


So now, between two people living in the apartment, there is absolutely no income.  We made our way down to the Department of Transitional Assistance yesterday to apply for SNAP...Do they think if they change the name from Food Stamps to SNAP, it will hurt any less?  So hopefully we will be able to eat, but I don't know where we are going to cook the food if we can't pay our rent.

All I can say is that this is beyond ridiculous.  The government needs to get their heads out of their asses, and start taking care of Americans and stop worrying about everyone else at least for the time being.  I can't wait to see what else they blame us for when the homeless, murder and suicide rates hit new heights.  This all started with their screw ups, not ours...

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad

With the 4th of July coming up this weekend, everyone is getting together for cookouts.  As much fun as this can be, it does get a little stressful trying to figure out how to feed a group of people on a budget.  I made this recipe a couple weeks ago for a BBQ at a friends house.  Everyone raved about the pasta salad!  Little did they know that I made if for under $10.  This recipe was enough to serve about 20 people as a side dish, and we still had some left over to take home with us.

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad

1 Cucumber

1 Red Pepper

2 boxes Farfalle Pasta (I prefer Barilla)

1 bottle Kraft Roasted Red Pepper Salad Dressing

1 package Feta Cheese

Salt & Pepper to taste

Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions.  Drain the pasta, and run under cold water.

  

Seed the cucumber with a spoon, then dice into 1/4 inch pieces.  Dice the pepper about the same size.

Combine the pasta, cucumber, pepper, and entire bottle of dressing.  Crumble the feta into the salad, and add salt and pepper to taste.

I do not have a photo of this salad yet, but the next time I make it, I will be sure to post a pic.

I hope you enjoy this recipe, I know we did! 

Dilemma #1: What to write for my first post...I think I figured it out.

For those of you who don't know who I am, and I'm assuming that is all of you, let me introduce myself.  My name is Dooley (or at least that is what everyone calls me).  I am thirty years old, and live in a small town in central Massachusetts.  My family here is made up of myself, my crazy cat Spaz, and my even more insane (in a good way Sweetie, I love you!) fiance Dan. 

 I was laid off back in 2008, and I am still unemployed.  If that is not bad enough, Dan was laid off in 2009.  We have been engaged for four years, and we were just waiting for my divorce from my first marriage to be finalized so that we could finally get married.  The timing of the divorce, and loosing our jobs, has been quite a challenge in planning the wedding.  Almost everything for our wedding will be DIY, from invitations to the guest book and favors.

Cooking is my other love, which can also be difficult on a budget.  I do pride myself on my "pantry" cooking, though.  On those days that we really can't afford to go to the grocery store, and the cupboards look bare, I can still manage to pull together a delicious meal.  There is just something amazing about the feeling you get when you can make something from nothing.

I hope to share these things with you, from DIY wedding tips, cooking on a budget, and my thoughts and opinions on just about anything.  I look forward to your comments, questions, advice, and hopefully not criticism (although I am open to it).