Okay, so the second hearing went a little better than I expected. I didn't get nearly as much as I think would be fair, but I did get more than the initial offer and that's more than the minimum required by the state. The judge even explained that prior to 2005 the laws in Missouri were pro-worker, and after they were pro-business/insurance. I should have a check in another week or so and I can move on with my life.

Two days before the hearing I was reading a terribly depressing article about a study that showed people who have been out of work for more than six months have only a 2% chance of even getting an interview (I've been out of work for over 16 months). As I cut and pasted the article with it's charts to a separate document with the intention of taking it to the hearing as evidence that I needed more money for vocational training, my phone rang. It was one of the companies I'd applied to asking me to come in for an interview.

So the day before the hearing I went in and the interview went well (I thought). They said they'd call me on Friday. Friday came and went, no call. One of my friends' girlfriend works for them so I sent her a message about it and she informed me that a few people had called in at the same time so they were swamped and not to worry.

Yesterday I was called and offered the job. I was to start today at 8AM, but at 6:30AM she called and said there was a family emergency for the person I'd be training with and they'd call me when thing were sorted out..

So I have a job.. I think... yay?