Sorry to bug you I am having a really tough night
I am still unemployed and having a more difficult time even finding the required four things to apply for each week. I am now looking in to the gaping maw that is the holidays coming toward me and I will not be able to do anything for my kids. They are 17 and 13 and they totally understand, its me that this is killing. A friend of mine has come through with a two day a week odd jobs kind of thing I can do that may keep my lights on so I guess that is one good thing. I am starting to think that my time as a professional with an office and a decent income are behind me and I am going to have to go back to being in retail like back in college, I really feel like shit. I have been out of work for over four months. To some people that doesn't sound like much time but I am losing who I am and feeling worse every day I go without work.
My brother is going in to brigham and women's hospital tomorrow to have the golf ball sized cyst in his brain looked at. I am terrified for him. He has two young boys one is 4 and 1 is 1 1/2 He is scared to death and I am trying to make him feel better.
I am trying to make jewelry to sell but I am losing confidence in that too. I am going to have to figure out how to do it on line and the website will have to be free-something else that is overwhelming.
I cant afford to get the kids school clothes or haircuts. I haven't had a haircut in four months and look like shit. I just want to crawl under the bed and hide. 
= new reply since forum marked as read
Hold tight Robyn66, and I bet that your kids will be understanding about gifts, screw xmas gifts, just give love.
Your jewelry, maybe you can post a question for advice on selling in the DU marketplace. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1120
I gave myself haircuts the whole time I was in college with a good pair of scissors, a Wahl electric shaver for hair is pretty cheap, you might find one used, haircuts could be a quality family time thing to do!
I'm sending good vibes, that's about all I can do!
I don't know anything about your experience or skills, but I've been successful with the job hunt in the past by contacting companies that are not advertising a job. Most jobs are not advertised, but found through networking. Are there any chamber of commerce, or networking groups, that have mixers each month? That's a great way to meet people that can put you in touch with those that are hiring. And networking events are a great way to keep connected with the professional 'you'
How about some volunteering, if possible? I've known many people who have gone on to paying jobs from their volunteering with groups they're interested in helping. Don't lose hope... all it takes is ONE job interview to get employed again, and you can't know if that will be tomorrow, or next week, so keep your chin up!
My husband had to retire earlier this year, his body was just giving out from the job. He repaired phone cables and lines--he has problems with his knees and shoulders. We were hoping he could make it to 62, but he just couldn't do it. We're trying to get him on Social Security disability, but that's a crap shoot at best. I found a job, but it's temporary. So we're living off savings right now and I hope it holds out for another year. If I end up unemployed, I don't know what we'll do. 
Fortunately, he has a couple of annuities that will start up next year and he will be 62 just over a year from now, so I do see a point when it gets a little better for us.
I know what you mean when you say the days of a decent income may be behind you. Our youngest son is 17 and we have a 24 yr old son who can't find work anywhere and is living with us again.
Perspective has a lot to do with it. I'm 41 and have been out of work for about 2 years, so I understand how easy it is to feel like you are losing your sense of self. Its not the way 'life is supposed to be', at least not by the metrics that we probably knew growing up and seeing all around us. Becoming unemployed suddenly upends the notion of being a provider, and a valuable contributer within a work environment. Limited options can erode our sense of self.
On one hand, I was lucky because I was divorced, no kids, self employed and owned a house. So I was able to engineer my own crash landing a bit, and minimize the fallout. But on the other hand, I'm not as lucky to have a stable anchor like the fabulous kids, caring family and helpful friends that you describe. Hang in there, you are definitely not alone or adrift with assets like those.
Best wishes.
Prayers and good wishes for your brother.
We Loungers will be here for you when you need us...
outfitting our boys for "new" school clothes, as we can get clothes for as low as a dollar a piece. (Sometimes they want a $5 shirt. Some years we can do that, some we can't.) And we keep an eye out for coupons for buy one get one or half off deals on sneakers, which is the real budget buster for us.
As for hair, I've cut theirs for years. It's not fun. I hate it and so do they, but somehow they come out looking more or less like a human being. Some barbers have really decent prices on haircuts, $10 or so. But for our family that was still out of reach, so we haven't done that very often. If you have a hairdresser's academy in your area, you can get good deals there as well. (I haven't had my hair cut in a good long while, either. I am wearing hairbands again like when I was a little girl, except the hair by my forehead is all grey now. I've come full circle, I guess.)
Last year was a sparse Xmas. We had a tree with hardly anything under it, and those things came from lovely people who knew our kids didn't have anything. Some years can be like that.
I will keep you, your family, and your brother in my prayers. I hope everything goes well for him and gets better for you! I understand the strain of not feeling good about yourself, about worrying over the food and clothes and bills. I hope you can make that beautiful jewelry and sell it, so you can can get your hair nice. It's funny how a decent haircut can make you feel so much better!!
biggest problem with thrift shops is a lack of sizes. My older son got too big for kid stuff and was too small for men's stuff, and for some reason Jr high age clothes are the hardest for us to find so we wound up at Kmart for some of his shopping. This year, though, he's in men's sizes. Now it's the younger son who is in the hard to fit zone. LOL
Hang in there! Maybe you'll find a yard sale or church sale that will have what you need. Check the papers and see what's listed for the next few weekends. 
I live in NH, but within driving distance of B&W's thanks!
Love to you and yours 
that really means a lot!
