Since I suggested it, I’ll attempt to answer. When I went to college, though, the Internet wasn’t around, and things have changed a lot since then. I typed “education loans” in Google and got a lot of sites. You’d want to be careful to look for something reputable (Citibank popped up as a result, for example). Find a local trade school, tech school, or program within a larger university or college (a junior or community college would be a good place to start) that has something you’d like to learn, and then talk to their admissions people. They should be able to help you with admissions process and have resources to tell you how to go about getting loans. They might even have programs to help non-trads specifically (non-traditional students, i.e. adults who’ve been out of school for a while.)
I had another thought - go to your local unemployment office. Even if you don’t qualify for unemployment, there are still lists of available jobs and they may be able to help you with continuing education. Also, take a typing/keypunch test. You may be able to get a data entry job if you can type reasonably fast.
StG
Heh-heh…you said “keypunch.” Heh-heh.
(studiously ignoring the Google ads, which are the most depressing I’ve ever seen . . . )
Here are some links I quickly found on yahoo that might help you find a job in Indiana. Also check out the sponsor links on the right.
http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/U_S__States/Indiana/Business_and_Economy/Employment/
You can also look into distance learning:
And there’s a lot of stuff on trade schools as well:
http://dir.yahoo.com/Education/Career_and_Vocational/Schools/Web_Directories/
Start clicking, and good luck!
First of all, do keep trying to sell your painted work. It’s much better than lots of similar items I’ve seen. And, really, you can do a search on me. I NEVER give an idle compliment.
The thing that really makes me sad about your situation is your lack of live human contact. While you’re looking for work, could you volunteer somewhere - maybe a hospital. In addition to putting you in the right place at the right time for job openings, you might make some friends. And while religion is like LAST on my list, perhaps a church would be a good resource for friendship, which in turn may lead to a job contact. You might meet the manager of your local Petco during coffee hour, you never know.
Also, do consider your house as the financial asset it is. If you sell it, you could afford to move and get a fresh start.
What about going to school to get certified to do Dental Hygiene. My friend is a dentist and they even pay the hygiene students $30.00/hr. I see that it’s a three year program at University Southern Indiana.
Or better yet, you could get certified to groom dogs. My sister in law was a dog groomer, and she made good money.
As always I am touched by everyone’s outpouring of help! What a great place. I don’t have pets but from what I have read no one here would dismiss your need for your dogs or think it’s silly. They are your close friends.
I agree with many of the suggestions and think too that having equity in the house is an excellent thing. It is your safety net for selling or borrowing against if you need it.
I would also say look into disability/SSI even if it takes a while; visit the social services office in your city to at least see what you might qualify for. It’s possible that with a medical condition that affects your being able to do the work you are trained for that you could get at least temporary assistance. There’s no shame in that and a social worker will know more easily where to go for things; you won’t be on your own trying to find resources. I’m not saying they may not be burnt out but you may luck out and at least there will be a connection.
And I would say to look into psych/counseling services (again, no shame in it, that’s what they’re for). Some have sliding scale fee structures to where you wouldn’t have to pay too much if any. Just having that lifeline may help you feel less adrift.
And as someone who surfs eBay and such for specific niche items, I would say if you are able to present your crafts, you will make sales even without it being a dog and horse specialty market. Just don’t underprice them; they are unique crafts done by you and are worth it. You may also be able to place a selection in a gift shop and even if the owner takes a commission you will do fine.
Good on you for using all the skills you have to make your way.
I meant to mention these things, too. Also consider craft fairs and here’s why…you can offer custom paintings of people’s pets. I, for example, have a pair of wacky looking corgi mixes never found on a box or bag. You could sell what you have and give out cards advertising the custom work as well. Your paintings really are quite good.
My God, you guys are beyond wonderful.
I actually have an appointment with a free councilor tomorrow afternoon. I am hoping against hope that they will be able to point me in the right direction toward public assisstance, and I have seriously thought about getting on disability , at least short term.
I don’t belong to any church, nor did my dad. I have been very disillusioned by religion over the years.
I have been calling a lot of different local gift shops and such , and can’t find anyone interested in selling my work. One lead I do have that I am quite excited about is the AKC Dog Museum, in St. Louis ; I have talked to the purchaser for the gift shop, and she wants to see some of my work for sale in the gift shop. There is also an on-line shop called Settin’ Pretty, that sells all Setter items that is reviewing my work. I also want to contact some zoos nation-wide and see if they would display some.
I did have one small prayer answered today… maybe small , but I’ll take what I can get at this point. My monthly utility bill came in and I dreaded opening it. Much to my delight and surprise, the balance due was $0.00 !!! AND… I have a $750 credit, which will KEEP that balance due at $0.00 for the next 2 or 3 months. A little breathing room, anyway. I don’t know why they gave me a credit, and I don’t care. I will just take the little blessing as I can get it. If they later discover it was a mistake, they will at least have to work out a payment plan with me.
St.Germain , your offer to take Nick & Kharma touches me beyond belief, and I will certainly keep it in mind, but if it DOES come to that, they have a home with my best friend , who lives in Virginia and is also Nick’s co-owner.
I have a hard time grasping the outpouring of care that I am getting from you guys. I never expected this, I really didn’t. I don’t feel so alone now.
Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
Anna
I just thought of that and came by to post exactly that. Further, what about painting cats as well? You must noticed how crazed Doper’s get about their cats in the cat threads, I would imagine there would be a market for custom cat paintings as well.
Also, I wanted to second the advice for volenteer work. It’ll get you out and about, but also give you more human contact. Plus, it add a routine to life, which I find helps with getting my head straight.
Good luck and best of wishes.
First of all, don’t think it’s silly the way you feel about your dogs. I also suffer from major depression and during my lowest months, the only thing that kept me going were my goldfishes. Believe me, dogs being your closest companions people understand. Goldfishes, not so much. But they loved me in their own way and, to be honest, if I hadn’t had them to care for I might not be here today. They helped me through the roughest times in my life and to this day, they were the most special critters I have ever known. Bless their little fishy hearts.
Secondly, find a professional to talk to who understands depression. Again, I am speaking from experience. It took a long time but having a counselor helped me get to a better place in my life. The sessions during the first several months I simply cried. I couldn’t talk. But then it got better. She eventually convinced me to take medication and it took several tries to find the right one but in the long run, it helped me feel better about myself. Everything isn’t great in my life but it’s tolerable now and I’ll take that over the way I was before.
Here’s the link for the Southwestern Indiana Mental Health Center in Evanston. I’m sure you could get in on some kind of sliding-scale fee program or maybe even free. Have a look and seriously consider giving them a call. * Especially* if you’re still feeling suicidal. We want you to get better and I’m sure you do too.
As for jobs, try the temporary agencies again. Don’t wait for them to call you. Call them often and let them know you’re available. That way, they’ll get to know you and that you are really wanting to work. And don’t worry about the one that called when your father died. I’m sure they didn’t put anything negative on your record that would keep them from offering you other work. Give them a call and let them know you can accept work now and keep calling them until they give you something.
Your paintings are wonderful. I wish I knew someone who has a shop and could buy some from you. I hope some other Dopers do and recommend you to them.
Please PM me if you need to talk. We have a lot in common. Hugs.
As far as going back to school, look into options for re-entry, non-traditional, and adult students going into college. Check out The College Board’s essay, "Paying for College (PDF format) which addresses the issues facing adults who return to school. Contact local colleges, fill out your FAFSA, apply for scholarships at places like fastweb. If all else fails, you can take out a loan. Getting a degree or learning a new skill may be what you need to earn a more secure income.
First, to help you start feeling better, start a gratitude journal. I challenge you to write five things each day that you are grateful for. It can be as small as clean sheets on your bed or the perfect cup of coffee for breakfast, but looking for things to be grateful for should break you out of your habit of focusing on what’s going wrong with your life, instead of focusing on what’s going right.
Second, there are solutions to all your problems - you just haven’t found them yet.
Third, have you thought of doing work like dog walking, housecleaning, yard work, stuff like that? You mentioned looking after your father - how about working as an aide in a nursing home?
Fourth, do you know why you aren’t getting any response from employers? Is it your lack of resume? Do you get interviews, and then they just don’t hire you? Do you not get calls at all? Do you need to create a resume? Do you need to work on your interviewing skills? If you can figure out why no one’s interested, you can work on fixing it.
Fifth (and finally), suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It might feel like you’re never going to feel any differently than you do now, but that is just the depression talking. You WILL feel better again someday, and you WILL be glad that you tied that ol’ knot and just hung on. If not, you can come up to Calgary and kick my ass.
Here are some odd suggestions:
If you’re into specific breeds of dogs: Contact the national clubs, or local clubs. Offer your artwork “at a discount” for them to use as prizes at shows. Talk to your breed club, too - offer to sell your art (breed-specific) with “some proceeds” going to breed rescue! For every item sold, $2 goes to rescue. You still make your cut. And dog people are RABID when they find out someone is doing art of THEIR BREED.
Make yourself a website as you do that kind of thing - and let people know you also take commissions.
You said you like your dogs - I know how important they are, therapeutically… man oh man… one thing you could look into is working for a vet, kennel (boarding kennel), or maybe even a humane society. Many of them look for “kennel help” - people who are willing to do the dirty work, so to speak, but it’s a paying job and it’s a foot in the door. You could also ask a local groomer if you can apprentice to them, spend a few months learning, get a little bit of equipment, and start a small in-home grooming business.
Other venues to try - you’ve been a “care-giver” - talk to your therapist when you go, see if anyone in the area helps hire out Helping Hands - people who aren’t RNs but who are basically personal assistants to someone who is disabled, gets them to appointments, that sort of thing. That may be a venue for you.
Trying to think outside the box for ya.
Oh man, Anna…I can’t offer much additional advice - well maybe one thing. Your dog art is really good - another selling venue to try is go to a large benched dog show, or pet expo and shmooze with vendors who sell a variety of arty dog stuff. See if they’ll let you sell some items on commission through them.
I totally understand your devotion to your dogs; I’ve been in a similar situation and silly though it sounds to some, my dogs have been my lifeline too, and I wouldn’t give them up for the world.
I’m brand spanking new here, but I think you can PM me. I show one of my dogs in performance/working events and go to trials and shows. I train with someone who is also a vendor at larger shows, your artwork may fit with her stuff. If you want me to ask her about it, drop me a line. We’re training together tomorrow morning.
I attended a UKC show in Michigan this last weekend, there were quite a few Gordon show people there…breed-specific items fly off the shelves!
I love the support that’s being offered here, it’s really nice.
Papsett, you’re one of my favorite posters, so I really hate to hear you so down. I’m another that’s rootin’ for you.
Do consider learning to program. Also/alternatively, see what you can barter for. You may be able to exchange a bag/box/custom portrait for web design (or even something more basic, like food, though I don’t know so much about that).
Are your dogs well trained? Kharma is, I’m sure. She just got a hunting title, didn’t she? Maybe you could use her to be your “demo dog” and run basic, basic training classes. (I don’t know what the rules or liabilities on that are, though.)
Elenfair’s on the right track with coercing people with breed artwork combined with breed rescue. I’m sure you know that too, being in the show world yourself.
Are there any restaurants in your area that sell art? You might be able to get them to display your bags or other works there, and it may be a venue that’s easier to get into. There may also be local “hole-in-the-wall” places that don’t so much sell art as they do random stuff sold by locals. Check it all out.
Keep with the doggie work. You know it, you love it, and you can find a way to make it happen.
Finally, please feel free to e-mail me. I’ll talk dogs like a fiend, and I have a lot to say about them myself.
The PM’ing doesn’t work here. Welcome to the boards, bonobo_jones. Did I already compliment the OP on her art? If I didn’t, I meant to. It’s really quite well done.
for people that have never really met each other, even the person with 2 posts…and even me, who has most of their posting done on “Great Debates” (even though the other stuff is quickly catching up), i like the outpouring of help and community here. this is what neighborhoods and communities should be like. once again, i just want to put it out there that if you need anything of me, let me know. i like to make a difference and fix problems. we all want to fix your problem, as well. please, do keep us posted on how this all comes along.
don’t feel alone.
Thanks, and so it doesn’t! So much yet to learn.
Ooh, post #3.
A reverse mortgage may not work as you have to be 62 to quality. A home equity loan could work out for you. Have you considered trying to bring in roommates to your house? That could help you out. If you have the ability to bring in roommates with a home equity loan it would make your situation a bit easier. But there could be risks to that.
Do you have any other family? I’m guessing no, which is sad.
If you don’t already have a bachelors degree signing up for college may be an idea, maybe not for a bachelors but for something or other. The state of Indiana actually offers alot of state grants to poor people who are independent. Some one year degree at Ivy tech could work out for you.
Try Mission Press or Hannah House (the homeless shelters) and ask if they can help you out with your situation since you are on the brink of homelessness. Ask for advice as they’d have a better idea of what needed to be done.