I don't like unemployment. My wife is stressed. She is worried about paying the bills, food, shelter, and clothing. Plus, the lack of money means that she doesn't even have much to spend on gas to visit friends. Not to mention wondering if we'll be able to afford having her visit family and friends in other states this summer. When she wants to spend time with me, or have me help with the kids, I often searching online for jobs that I just might qualify for. If I had a job, my time away from family would have a paycheck associated with it. Right now, it is just more applications. Financially, she's trapped here with me, and even spending so little, she's been watching our savings dwindle.

On the positive, Jennilyn has started climbing stairs. So far it is only to reach someone she wants currently on the stairs. Considering that she loves to explore on her own, it is only a matter of time before she heads for the stairs for an adventure of her own. Jennilyn also stood unsupported for the first time last week.

Dillon still doesn't say a whole lot. Coming down the stairs today, he said, “two.” We've been counting the stairs frequently for Dillon. I have heard him say several of the numbers before along with Netty or myself. Netty told me that one day he said, “two,” a lot while holding up one finger. I would have loved to have seen that. It was probably one of those times I was down here in the basement doing my job search.

There are times I take a break from my job searching. Staring at job descriptions does get a bit tiring. Not necessarily physically, but the eyes begin to hurt and the brain seems to start missing gears. This Thursday I plan to drive to Iowa for a job fair. That should help shake things up from all this online stuff.