I've filed for unemployment

So... I officially submitted a claim for unemployment benefits yesterday. I have no idea if I will qualify, but I don't know why not. I am not able to work because my company has shut down due to the covid-19 pandemic and the state being on shutdown. I guess I will find out within the next... 21 days.

It actually wasn't that bad. Unlike years ago - when I would get laid off every winter at the chimney factory and have to drive 30 miles away and sit in an office and talk to a real person - it was all done online. They said it could take up to an hour, but mine was pretty cut and dried, and probably didn't even take 30 minutes. I just need a copy of my last pay statement, the dates I started and stopped working, and other basic info. I actually used my blog to find specific dates, so it's good for something at least.

Jane is now home as well. She started working from home as of today. As a full-time hourly worker, she can work no more than 30 hours per week (company mandate). She can't use any benefit time, but can take all the unpaid time off she wants.

This morning we set up an office in what used to be Anna's bedroom. The kids (grand kids) had actually been wanting us to put all their beds in the basement. We were afraid there wasn't enough ceiling room for the bunk beds, so instead we put them all in what used to be the "boys room/guest room." I think they will like it. It will be nice having an office too.

I am actually typing this on an old, old, old laptop I had laying around. I mean, seriously, I believe we got it between 2005 and 2008, so it's 12-15 years old! It uses Windows XP, and I'm afraid to update anything because I don't want to disable it. Everything looks really weird. It also only has one hinge, so I have to be really careful opening and closing it. So far, with three windows open, it's holding it's own. It sounds like it's working really hard, and takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r to open a page though. And this used to be normal...

Jane is using our regular laptop. It is over 7 years old, btw. She had to take it to work yesterday for their IT guy to make it so she can log into her computer at work remotely. I am hoping this doesn't crash it!

So... that's where we're at with that. I am officially unemployed, Jane is working from home, we are on lockdown (only necessary travel allowed), and this is going to be "normal" for awhile. Apparently.