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An unexpected vacation...
Oct. 3rd, 2013 08:51 am... but I'm not going anywhere.
The vacation is thanks to Congress, which decided to shut down the federal government rather than negotiate a new budget for the current fiscal year. As such, I have been furloughed as of Tuesday.
Yes, I've applied for unemployment since I can do that, though I don't know if I've done it properly since the rules are different if you're a furloughed federal employee versus one that's been laid off. And most of the documentation on the site is geared toward those who have been laid off permanently (you have to job hunt, schedule interviews/contacts, not refuse any reasonable offer of work, etc.)
The one thing I can't do right now is appeal the decision to furlough (for example, if I was considered mission essential I would be able to continue to work, just not get paid), and that's because the appeals site is down due to the shutdown.
In any case, with all of that, that solidifies what I'd already been planning since earlier this year: no trips through the end of 2014, which means no cons and no visits anywhere. And I'll be unable to house anyone that visits either, so if you visit you're unfortunately on your own for accommodations.
We'll see how long this lasts, but right now I think this could last the entire month, especially with the issue of the debt ceiling being the next 800-pound gorilla to come our way. And if the news is right, that one will be an even bigger fight than this one.
The vacation is thanks to Congress, which decided to shut down the federal government rather than negotiate a new budget for the current fiscal year. As such, I have been furloughed as of Tuesday.
Yes, I've applied for unemployment since I can do that, though I don't know if I've done it properly since the rules are different if you're a furloughed federal employee versus one that's been laid off. And most of the documentation on the site is geared toward those who have been laid off permanently (you have to job hunt, schedule interviews/contacts, not refuse any reasonable offer of work, etc.)
The one thing I can't do right now is appeal the decision to furlough (for example, if I was considered mission essential I would be able to continue to work, just not get paid), and that's because the appeals site is down due to the shutdown.
In any case, with all of that, that solidifies what I'd already been planning since earlier this year: no trips through the end of 2014, which means no cons and no visits anywhere. And I'll be unable to house anyone that visits either, so if you visit you're unfortunately on your own for accommodations.
We'll see how long this lasts, but right now I think this could last the entire month, especially with the issue of the debt ceiling being the next 800-pound gorilla to come our way. And if the news is right, that one will be an even bigger fight than this one.
