Deanna Linz~TV Host and Pageant Coach

So today was my appeals case from the Department of Maryland. My ex-employer does not want to pay unemployment so there was a version of a hearing. I should have known as it was raining that the day would end up gloomy. I got so lost. In my GPS I put in the exact address and I swear it lead me to a neighborhood. So after numerous panic calls, I found the location which was behind a mall.

As I entered I could hear my ex-employer making reference to Mrs International. It is funny that for a company that you can't even access external websites from the office somehow someone manage to find my blog (or as he said someone was looking up personal websites) and print it out. Because I was late, completely my fault, my time had passed to state any rebuttal and the lady doing the hearing was clearly disgruntled with me being late (and I do understand that but I was lost, wish I could take it back) My ex- employer was referring to me doing pageants as an issue. So here is my rebuttal for what it is worth....

She competed in Alabama~ I did NOT I was appointed the title. However, even if I did, pageants happen over weekends which last time I checked were still my time.

Then I competed in Chicago, mind you after I got fired. Most don't know as I didn't publish it but I had backed out of the pageant prior. My son had spent almost 6 months in the NICU and had been very sick so I was concerned with various aspects of my life.

So, I never signed ANY FMLA paper work and was under the impression that I would be returning the end of July. I had kept in contact with HR and was working home. Everything seemed fine and my boss never really responded to anything so I just assumed all was fine. 6 weeks after my son came home. I was let go on the 15th via email and I still have that email after he concluded that he didn't feel I could find adequate child care in that time so we needed to part ways. I don't believe he stated that today but I was late so maybe I missed it. Although apparently he had said I wasn't coming back, which was not true. Heaven forbid you want to do anything to make you smile. You must just be a horrible person.

So here is my issue with everything. I do not believe that returning 6 weeks after my son came home to work is out of line. I offered to return and he said no but I could reapply. My son SPENT 6 MONTHS in the NICU and is still on oxygen and a feeding tube. Pageantry, for the few days of the actual event but the countless hours of community service it has afforded me over the past 10 years, has been my escape in a very rough year for myself. I am a proud Army wife, a Mother of a disabled child and is willing to work 24/7 for my jobs in and out of the home. If their rebuttal is because I do pageants, then so be it. Maybe someone should start to question golfing or any other thing you may do outside the home.

I have NEVER looked for a free handout but to question my integrity, loyalty and commitment to what I do, then you don't know me at all. If I was a bad employee for pageants and the community work I did on MY TIME with the USO, AHA, March of Dimes or Breast Cancer awareness...then so be it, that is their opinion.

When will the government protect those who want to work and have fallen on hard times.

Might I add that my ex-boss has since got promoted. Apparently he succeeded in his budget cuts. Good job.