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CJ ArabiaTell me: Are unemployment benefits enough to get you through this Great Recession? This column is, after all, called How to Get Laid ... Off. And, as many of you know, I was laid off on Black Tuesday.

I'll tell you one thing: They aren't enough for me. And I'm a full grown adult, with -- as they like to put it during tax season -- zero dependents.

Though I have taken a few freelance gigs, I haven't been able to find permanent, full-time employment since my job went belly-up. I'd like a fun position at a cool company with benefits. The American dream. I'll settle for just about anything at this point. Mama's got bills to pay, and they ain't gonna pay themselves.

The Senate recently passed a extension on Unemployment Benefits by the skin of its teeth. Senator Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) alone stood in the way of what many Americans consider a last lifeline between themselves and homelessness. That's scary. If that extension hadn't been passed, millions of Americans, like me, would have stopped receiving benefits in the coming week. And I've already hit rock bottom.

I don't think people understand that one in 10 people in this country could lose everything if they stopped receiving unemployment. Their apartments, cars, furniture ... and they'd live where? Before you go pointing fingers, these aren't criminals or drug addicts, I'll have you know -- they're my friends. And yours.

My friend Tanya has run out of unemployment and used up all of her extensions. Despite that, she has no money to pay next month's bills ... she's praying for a miracle -- and applying for jobs anywhere and everywhere regardless of what they pay.

My friend Dana has been selling her personal belongings to pay the bills; she's hawked her TV, Xbox and a lounge chair so far. My own unemployment is dangerously close to running out, and blogging don't pay the bills. I had to cash in my retirement fund to pay my taxes.

What are we going to do about this? Here's where we really start feeling the pinch, my friends.

So our benefits were extended for another 30 days -- so what!? They'll have to do something else to pass more extensions after that for me to survive. And it's not for a lack of looking for alternatives.

I know collecting unemployment may not be a girl's ideal guide to weathering the Great Recession, but what do you suggest I do? Even if every available job in this country were filled immediately, that would only employ one in every six jobless people. This is a crisis. This is a disaster. This is a ticking time bomb.

In the meantime, do you have a job for me? I'm totally open. Make suggestions! I'm going to get off the computer and go apply to work for the U.S. Census. I hear they're hiring. Our population seems to be the only thing that is growing these days.

In all earnestness, do you know anyone anywhere who would want to hire an awesome person like me? I can knit like the dickens. I really enjoy gardening and dog sitting, and I'm the queen of social networking, but most of all I love to write. However, like I said before ... I'm open to anything (within reason.)