I became unemployed as of Nov. 17th. I was in the middle of a doctor-approved FMLA leave, so I've been lazily searching out a pro-bono attorney to handle that aspect of being fired while on leave. Yada yada.

So, I'm unemployed for the first time since I was 15 (I'm now 35). File for unemployment, am in the most economically depressed area in my state, more yada yada. In general, though, I'm clueless about this stuff.

So. I had an appt. Tuesday with a special job placement person who assists only veterans (ex-Ranger, remember). He has some, well, liveable leads, but also hits me with one other thing.

There's some program, that I would qualify for, because of having been in the service. It's not the GI bill - my eligibility on that ran out long ago. Basically, they have offered to put me through school to get the next level of education in my field (Nursing), on their dime. That would more than double my normal hourly rate, and put me even further behind a desk that I'm used to (good news, that, because you can do it to a ripe old age).

There's just one catch - right now, I'm considered a "displaced worker" by my State. Were I to get a job, I immediately lose eligibility for it. I would then have to go into the mixer with everyone else, and see if I shake out on income. Well, with my wife being a teacher with a Master's Degree, if I even got a part time job at Burger King for minimum wage, I'd be over the family income limit.

So, I'd have to remain jobless until the school started. At that point, I could get a part time job and not affect my funding. The problem is, Nursing entrance isn't like most fields. There are extra tests, interviews, criminal background checks, etc... just to be accepted into the course, and it isn't a quick process. IE, with 6 1/2 months of unemployment I could accrue, I'd have to get started very soon to not run out of unemployment BEFORE the schooling started.

With the lifestyle we had prior to my losing my job, and child support, etc... between my wife's income and unemployment, things would be tight. Doable, but really, really tight.

Or, I could take a job, start bringing in some money again, and forget the above, once-in-a-lifetime chance.

I can't decide what to do. The wife and I can think of good and bad scenarios both ways. I don't expect anyone to give me a decision, but any advice or input would be welcomed. I've learned to trust alot of opinion's here

If there's any part of they story I can elaborate on, let me know. I'm worse than Stewie Griffon at telling stories LOL.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

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"I have this theory that the Apollo missions were faked when NASA found out that general relativity was wrong because the Earth was expanding due to the Sun's iron core being influenced by magnetic waves from the electric universe after being perturbed by Planet X and thereby causing global warming. Where should I start a thread about this?" ~ ToSeek

"Those are the people that wonder how a thermos knows whether to keep something hot or keep something cold." ~ NeoWatcher

Chill out ... grow vegies ... use your obviously capable brain to figure out how to reduce your cost of living. Sell the second car and get an electric scooter. You might even reduce your greenhouse gas emissions while your at it.

Your opportunity for free training that will increase your income for the next 30 years is worth 6 months of pain. Is your situation going to improve when you start training, or will you be reliant on the missus until your course is over? Maybe a part time Ebay store? Or carpet salesman in Second Life?

Is nursing what you really want to do? If you've worked hard doing the right thing by your family maybe its time to think about how you would like to spend the rest of your life? What would be your ideal job?

A labour of love is no labour at all.

I started part time, external university study at age 39. Skeptics always ask me how I expect to earn a living from Geoarchaeology. I say I'm sure if I just keep doing the best work I possibly can, the opportunities will come. Due to graduate mid 2008.

Just had two offers from people needing uni students to assist in possibly ground breaking research.

Find your dream and follow it. You might have to down size the house for a decade though.

If your dream is to continue your nursing, you're already half way there.

Indeed, my dream is to continue to help the hurt in Nursing. I feel it a calling, if you will.

Once I actually start training, I can retain a part time job to help with the income, so that would help some.

And congrats to you, BTW, for following your dream and not letting anything stop you. I admire (and rather wish I had) that kind of determination at this exact moment in time.

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"I have this theory that the Apollo missions were faked when NASA found out that general relativity was wrong because the Earth was expanding due to the Sun's iron core being influenced by magnetic waves from the electric universe after being perturbed by Planet X and thereby causing global warming. Where should I start a thread about this?" ~ ToSeek

"Those are the people that wonder how a thermos knows whether to keep something hot or keep something cold." ~ NeoWatcher

I'm with Ozzy. Tighten up the budget and go for the long term rewards. The worst case is looking back a few years from now and saying "I wish I would have . . . "

There is an approach called the Definite Major Purpose (DMP). Sounds like you know what yours is. Bite the bullet on the short term gratifications in order to set the course for your DMP. Be brutal on separating your REAL needs from the flotsam. Eating spaghetti 2 or 3 times a week for a few months will be well worth it.

(Just a euphemism for knuckling down, but I did eat spaghetti about 3 or 4 times per week during one really tight year at school. It was worth it, and believe it or not, I still love spaghetti).

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Don of Borg - Cool, Calm, Collective.

"Within the next generation I believe that the world's leaders will discover that infant conditioning and narco-hypnosis are more efficient, as instruments of government, than clubs and prisons, and that the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

I glad that you have a dream, and its not far away. If you can make the decision that waiting for the nursing training is what you are going to do, your subconcious will work really hard (especially while your sleeping), to come up with the solutions you need.

Faith is an amazing thing. I seems to me that when you believe something is going to happen, your subconcious is open to making connections, and seeing opportunities that you might normally not register as useful.

Go for the degree. You've at least got a specific goal in mind, which beats the heck out of the "I really need to go to college" generic mantra that hits 30 somethings waking up from their 20something hangover.

At the same time, skip the pro bono search, and talk to a real shark who'll be mercenary enough to work for a percentage and unleash Hell upon your ex-employer.

Fotgot about that part. FMLA is pretty sacred. Not an expert but my recollection from using it myself was that about the only way I could become unemployed during FMLA was if they went out of business.

On the topic, got missed in some cuts ealier this week myself. The money in the health care financing biz is getting incredibly tight. Even top dog, high falutin, babblefishing, know-it-all consultants are at risk.

Being the janitor, I feel my job is of course quite secure.

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Don of Borg - Cool, Calm, Collective.

"Within the next generation I believe that the world's leaders will discover that infant conditioning and narco-hypnosis are more efficient, as instruments of government, than clubs and prisons, and that the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

You near guiernsi...screw it. I can't spell it. G-county? There's a job listing for a state parks ranger at salt-fork that I'd love (I know i know, park ranger haha but it's outdoors and not at all a bad job). But i'm too far away. If you like that kinda thing I'm sure your background would help. It mighta been part-time tho. Can't remember. Think it paid pretty well tho. Anyway just an idea if ur in that area.

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I'm like one of those idiot savants...well, except for the savant part.

I think this is pretty good advice.

On the other hand, as far as I know, most places are in DIRE NEED of nurses. I doubt finding a new position would be any trouble at all, and I would be surprised if a new employer in this field would not have some sort of continuing education plan that they paid a large percentage of.

Move! It's a pretty big planet!

Well, it wouldn't be pro bono, but if you've got a pretty good case, which it sounds like you do, you shouldn't have to pay any money up front. The attorney will just take all her costs from the eventual award -- plus anywhere from 33% to 40%. Oh, but wait - the main question is how much you've been damaged. Even though you were fired, you have an obligation to look for a new job and mitigate your damages, so you may only be able to claim a few months lost wages. You may get some payback for intentional infliction of emotional distress, but that's kind of a crap shoot. I'm no attorney, so I don't know. You're doing the right thing -- talk to a few attorneys. They shouldn't charge anything to consider your case. Talk to several. Work up a good summary of the situation and email it to them after you initially contact them by phone. See what they say.

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Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.

You know, my attorney works almost exclusively on contingency, and he's the best Social Security lawyer in the region. (Of course, we don't talk much these days, but there's really nothing either of us can do for a while. My hearing hasn't been scheduled yet.)

Take the chance. For one thing, I believe higher education to be a worthwhile goal all by itself, but in this case, it has clear, tangible future benefits. Go for it, and good luck.

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Gillian

"Now everyone was giving her that kind of look UFOlogists get when they suddenly say, 'Hey, if you shade your eyes you can see it is just a flock of geese after all.'"

"You can't erase icing."

"I can't believe it doesn't work! I found it on the internet, man!"

I think I'm coming closer and closer to that decision. I gave myself till Monday to make up my mind. The vet's counselor said the mistake most people make is that they sit around on unemployment (not me - I can't stand not working), then at the very end decide to do this. If I jump quick, even though I can't accept a job, unemployment should just about hold out long enough for me to be accepted into the program and then start the following cycle, where I could then get a part-time (but not fulltime) job. The timing is really key to this.

On the lawsuit - I'm not really keen on even opening one, myself. But others around me are sharkish on this because they see it as unjust - which it is - but I don't personally have much desire to chase it. When my first son died, I took out a lawsuit against the institution that caused it (per terms I can't give any identifiable info, sorry), but I can tell you that in the 3ish years of constant work to get it done, and we won, BTW, I wound't do it again if I could go back. They aren't easy. Then I gave the monies I was awarded away to a local children's hospital, for which my family has never forgiven me. But I digress. Needless to say, having been through one tough lawsuit, I have no stomach for another knock-down drag-out. As my Father has always said, "The best revenge is living well."

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"I have this theory that the Apollo missions were faked when NASA found out that general relativity was wrong because the Earth was expanding due to the Sun's iron core being influenced by magnetic waves from the electric universe after being perturbed by Planet X and thereby causing global warming. Where should I start a thread about this?" ~ ToSeek

"Those are the people that wonder how a thermos knows whether to keep something hot or keep something cold." ~ NeoWatcher

If you're paying child support, you need to petition the court for a reduction now unless you're already paying on a sliding scale which you are probably not from your description. They will not go back and retroactively change the payments.

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In the progress of this discussion I shall endeavor to give a satisfactory answer to all the objections which shall have made their appearance, that may seem to have any claim to your attention.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1

You didn't say what education level you were at currently and what level this would be. Is this a master's program or BSN or doctorate???

I have always enjoyed change so I went to college, worked, traveled, went back to school, worked, traveled, went back to school, worked, traveled, and worked, traveled, worked (MSN was enough school). I have been very pleased with the way things went.

As far as staying on unemployment, while you wouldn't be the first person to deceive, technically you have to be actively looking for work to collect it. It isn't just vacation insurance. But that's your business.

On the other hand, I also got some of the course work out of the way between the time I applied and the time my nursing programs started. (Hint: only list past education you want credit for on your application. I went to a number of colleges for one chemistry class or one statistics class, etc. as I moved around. If you list unneeded classes, you just have that many more transcripts to order.)

It's pretty rare for an employer to pay for a degree. It can happen with some bonuses like a hospital wanting to attract nurses might offer a nurse with an ADN assistance with a BSN but it would include a couple years commitment to that employer.

As if the kid's income should go down because Serenitude voluntarily remains off work an extra 6 months in order to take advantage of an educational offer. That might be OK if the other family can afford it and if Serenitude voluntarily increases the payment later when he gets a better job. Contrary to common belief, not every child support payment is excessive. I, for example, get enough child support to pay my son's medical insurance. That's all the expenses my ex bothers to contribute. If I went back to court it would cost about $5K attorney's fees minimum and no guarantee my ex would be asked to pay that. $5K wipes out any gains for quite a while in payment increases. And now my son is 17. I doubt his dad will pay one dime towards college and it's likely the minute Mike is 18 the other payment will end even though my carrying the health insurance won't.

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The real news, including science news corporations may not allow on stations they own. http://www.democracynow.org/

I should make it clear that I have no intention of lowering my support payments, nor do I begrudge them on bit. Making sure they get paid in full every month is the formost thing on my mind, right now. The other things could fall in line easily enough. To be clear, though: I have no intention of having support lowered. I have no intention of missing payments. I have every intention of paying it as scheduled. Making sure this is very doable is one of the main reasons this is tough decision. I pay a rather large sum of money, pay for 100% of childcare (babysitter) costs, and pay 100% of insurance and premiums as well, among other things. I am proud to do this and do not take kindly to any insinuation that it is otherwise.

As for remaining on unemployment, that is another quandry. I'm not the deceptive type, any more than I am the not-working type, and it's difficult to be that way, and doubly so to consciously maintain it. It is odd, though, that it was at the very suggestion of the gov't office. I realize it's not "vacation insurance". This is another reason this is a difficult decision. Strangely enough, the office requiring me to remain unemployed is a part of the same office that gives unemployment benefits. It would, indeed, be much easier on me if they realized the silliness of the rule and allowed me to work in some capacity, but there's big buearocracy for you.

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"I have this theory that the Apollo missions were faked when NASA found out that general relativity was wrong because the Earth was expanding due to the Sun's iron core being influenced by magnetic waves from the electric universe after being perturbed by Planet X and thereby causing global warming. Where should I start a thread about this?" ~ ToSeek

"Those are the people that wonder how a thermos knows whether to keep something hot or keep something cold." ~ NeoWatcher

1. Start the process to go back to school. Take the exams, do the background checks.

2. Interview for jobs. If anyone is interested in hiring you demand some exorbitantly high pay.

Best case scenario: you get hired on at the exorbitantly high pay, and you're happy.

Worst case scenario: you start school, and you're happy.

Sorry you were fired though. That's always scary, I know. A few years ago I was fired via email a week before my birthday while going through a divorce. Hehe.

Just realize that intentions cannot be argued before a family judge when addressing an arrearage - nor can reduced income. It is incumbent upon you to notify the court of the change of circumstance. Nothing prevents you from providing additional support in addition to the court-mandated minimum payments.

At any rate, you should consider a kinder tone for those from which you seek advice. Since you introduced the issue of support payments into this conversation, a reasonable person would consider that issue to be of concern by you.

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In the progress of this discussion I shall endeavor to give a satisfactory answer to all the objections which shall have made their appearance, that may seem to have any claim to your attention.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1

Not to go too far off topic, but I would offer one caveat to this. If the course in question appears as a transfer credit on any of the transcripts you are sending in, even if you consider it an irrelevant class, get the transcript from the school where you took the course as well.

Many years ago, I worked in an MBA admissions office, and we used to recalculate GPAs and convert quarter hours to semester hours as part of the application process. If we came across a transfer credit, but couldn't find the original transcript, we would stop processing that file, and contact the applicant to notify them that we needed the transcript.

Not all admissions offices will do things the same, but the fewer things that might delay the process, the better.

Best of luck to you in nursing... but don't be misled. It's not some rosy-haloed bed of ros