Gil Nims

I am currently employed as a temp employee at a large teaching hospital as a professional research assistant. I was employed in an administrative role in the same dept for several months last year. When the need arose to fill the position with a full time regular employee, I was encouraged to apply and interview for the position. I did interview, and during the course of the questioning I was asked about future aspirations. I admitted to desiring to attend graduate school in the future, and consequently didn't get the job based upon that goal (my supervisor explicitly told me this). I left the job after training my full time regular replacement.

Several months later, the supervisor of this dept contacted me again, and asked if I would be interested in a research assistant job. I was very interested and applied. I didn't get the job, because of so many other applicants with advanced degrees (this was what I was told in early spring). I have since found out, that because I had remained friendly with several other co-workers and told them that I was receiving infertility treatment this past summer, I was not hired. Another researcher was taking time out on maternity leave and apparently they didn't want to hire someone who "might" get pregnant.

I was called in August to come back in as a temp, after they had fired the person they hired instead of me in the Spring. She had not been committed to the research study work, and had made a huge mess of regulatory processes. I cleaned up her mess, and took on work that I hadn't been formally trained to do.

Currently, the office environment is very tense and female dominated. There is an amazing amount of personal talk about others that occurs daily. Folks are two-faced and generally self-promoting. I cry in my car on the way home almost every day. I am experiencing horrible upset stomach and acid reflux, plus my husband says that my mood has changed. In short, I am miserable.

My question is what kind of guidelines should I follow in leaving this position. The temporary agency doesn't have any rules or requirements set in stone for me to follow. I am not interested in staying another day, let alone two weeks. How should I handle this?

Hi. I live in Colorado, and was recently hired as an independent contractor by a wedding planning and officiant service. Over the past weeks, I have become increasingly concerned about the business practices of the owner. She has required myself and two others to attend mandatory training sessions which we are not being paid for. I have spent time and money traveling to wedding sites and planning meetings. She has also dictated that we must attend 6, 2.5 hr training sessions that she teaches in her 400 sq. foot apartment which she uses to operate her business as well as live in! I have not yet performed any work for her, but have been informed that the first $300 I earn will be held back until my one year anniversary with the company. I have signed a contract that did not specify any of these details, however she has never provided me with a signed copy bearing her signature as well. I have a horrible feeling about what I have gotten myself involved with. I'm thinking that this individual should classify us not as ICs, but as employees merely by the nature of what I have experienced thus far. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I feel as though I need to make a decision shortly as to whether I should continue with this endeavor. Thank you in advance.

Hi- We are a military family who purchased a home when we moved to our current duty station. My husband is up for promotion and we may be moving in a year. Currently, we have a 30 yr. fixed rate mortgage of 6%. Our payment is $1123 per month. We are unsure of our status, but can't stand the thought of not moving and not being able to get in on a lower interest rate. Also, my husband read that military families should consider ARM loans. Is this a good idea? Everything we've ever heard about ARMs has been negative. Thanks in advance for your honest advice.

We have been desperately trying to sell his old truck for the past month. I am really annoyed because less than a year ago he convinced me that he would keep the old truck (valued @ $2400 on NADA) since it was paid for, and we sunk about $2,500 in it for repairs. He is in the military, and when we moved to our current location in early summer he went out against my better judgment and purchased a new truck. We are also currently making payments on a vehicle he purchased when he returned from Iraq in '06. I own a small business and work from home. FYI, I don't really enjoy driving the small SUV he bought in '06 and neither does he! I'm not sure what my next move should be. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My husband is being transferred, and we are buying a home in the suburbs of Denver, CO. We have been approved for a specific amount, and are hoping to have the seller cover our closing costs. I have spoken with our realtor about the market in this area. Her indication to me was that I should not even consider homes that are 5k over what we have been approved for. Does this seem legitimate? I realize that looking at homes that are seriously out of our price range would not be a good thing, but is 5K too much? Advice is appreciated.

I'm hoping someone has some valuable advice. I received medical care without insurance back in 2001. I was hospitalized almost 2 wks, and incurred some serious debt. A civil judgment was filed on behalf of the hospital by an attorney in 2002. In 2003, I filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and the original debt was included and discharged. Is there any way that I can get this removed from my credit report? Only one CRA is reporting it- TransUnion. I filed a dispute, but I'm wondering if there is some legal action that I should be pursuing? Any advice is appreciated.

For the past year, I have repeatedly seen the number 444 in various situations. I awake at 4:44 am at least once a week. I have also seen the number in graffiti on a roadway near my home, and commonly when I look at clocks to check the time. I have done some research on my own, and have come across the concept of Hebrew Gematria. It points to the number 444 as having some association with Damascus. I am losing my mind trying to figure this out. Any help would be appreciated.