Thanks! For me the taxes are not an issue as I doubt I'll be redepositing since I feel like I will never have a job so no way to redeposit, and it is a sad fact that I had no choice, taxes or not, I had to do this to survive though I HATE to do this. This is the price I pay for independence.

Anyway, swag, I hear you about people not getting back to you. What is up with that? It is so awful. I have one good recruiter who was contacted by a large bank for positions and he said that he is calling them EVERY DAY asking for status on people he has sent them. He submitted my resume MONTHS ago. He said, why did they even bother asking him to round up people if they are not going to fill the jobs? He could understand if they decided later to delay the decision, or just got so many resumes they need more time to review them, but to not even respond to HIM ... I like his attitude! he said, someday the tables will turn and these same companies will be calling him begging for people. I can't wait! I had another company that I really thought liked me after the personal interview and said I would DEFINITELY be called back for the second interview. This was on Feb 4. 4 months is a long time to wait. I have emailed and called but no one will even have the courtesy to reply. Last Friday I even called the first guy that I had initially talked to and said, hey, you've probably filled the position but I am still interested in any consulting/contracting (he had originally put this out as a possibility). Of course, I am ignored ... but one day, as that recruiter says, the tables will turn! Hang in there everyone!