Phillip Retuta's Blog

The Life and Times of a Filipino-American

  • Blog Home
  • Main Site
  • Resume
  • Portfolio
  • Comic
  • Dog
  • Instagram
  • Contact

June 26, 2020 By Phillip Retuta

Work Update.

Day 100 of self-isolation.

Great news! Last week I received a notification from HR that they’re recalling my partial-furlough. I can’t wait to be working full-time again and have some sense of financial security. It’s been so fucking rough these past three months, where I had to borrow money from my parents and a friend and pick and choose which utilities I should and could pay for, and really think about how I can stretch a dollar with food. And that federal stimulus check? That went entirely to my rent.

Of course, the New York State government hasn’t been any help, and after 3 months of no communication from them, I finally receive a call from a case manager. Despite my rent, despite borrowing money from others, despite being partially-furloughed to part-time and not making enough money to live normal, they reject me — just because I work more than 3 days a week. I asked what can I do repeal that decision or what kind of aid I can find, but they say nothing can be done. Everything about this — from the rejection to the no communication to the strict guidelines — reeks of bureaucracy. I had no expectations from the government on a federal level, but I feel really disappointed and disillusioned by my local government.

All that aside, I’m happy to be back on full-time and my benefits (such as health insurance) safely secured. Even though I struggled financially at the beginning of the pandemic, I can look forward to saving money: I don’t have to commute, I’m not eating out all the time, and quite frankly my social life (like going to a bar or coffee shop) has been at a pleasant lull.

I consider myself very fortunate and very lucky, especially when so many people are unemployed and underemployed. Here in NYC, I have friends who’ve lost jobs in the food and hospitality industry. I hear news of food bank lines welcoming new, never-be-seen faces — a sign that well-to-do families and financially-secure people are now experiencing Great Depression-level anxieties.

It’s goddamn sad.

The world seems to be falling apart, and all I can do now is shut myself in, recoup my losses and payback those I owe, and truly hope we’ll all pull through this without too many scars.

Filed Under: New York City, Ramblings, Work

    Welcome


Born 1983. UX/UI and Digital Designer. Illustrator. Dog Owner. Coffee Enthusiast. Pizza Lover.

I love over-thinking the simplest of things and making stuff at every waking moment: comics, food, videos, photos... you name it. This blog is a record of my work, my exploits, and my philosophical, political, and psychological ideologies. So enjoy reading my dumb ideas and inane rants that I'd otherwise be ashamed to verbally speak out in public.

    Find Me Elsewhere

GhostPotato
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Vimeo
Flickr
Tumblr

Twitter Twitter

  • Phillip N. Retuta#365 2021.01.24: Have Dog, Will Travel. https://t.co/ns4aJIYl7d, 19 hours ago
  • Phillip N. Retuta#365 2021.01.23: Last Day of Dog Training/Meeting Up with a Co-Worker at Fort Greene Park. https://t.co/y2sVYKkeox, Jan 24 21
  • Phillip N. Retuta#365 2021.01.22: Listening to Records (and Sometimes Dancing) By Myself On Friday Night. https://t.co/906QXa1R9z, Jan 23 21
  • Phillip N. Retutahttps://t.co/PZjdKAIjEf, Jan 22 21
  • Phillip N. Retuta#365 2021.01.21: Doughble Trouble. https://t.co/ci5Q0sd5RW, Jan 22 21

Recent Posts

  • Thoughts on Dying, Death, and the Leftovers.
  • To Be Vaccine and Heard.
  • Nico Calendar 2021.
  • You Were The Best, Marissa Snoddy.
  • Ugly Americans: All Your Base Belongs to Suck.
  • Thoughts on 2020 and New Years Resolutions.
  • Ghosts, Gangsters, Vampires, and Weed: Favorite TV Shows of 2020.
  • Fingers Crossed.
  • My Year in Lists: My Favorite Albums of 2020.
  • Merry Christmas.

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • May 2018
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015

Categories

Copyright Phillip Retuta © 2021 · Log in