And one of my assignments is to create a blog for my humanities class. So, I have another one. It's at http://catshumanitiesblog.blogspot.com if anyone is interested in seeing what amounts to a school assignment, but who knows, maybe it's more interesting than this.
I am now into year two of my middle-aged college experience, and while I don't think I missed much by not going in my twenties, I do wish I had more time to devote to school so I could get this degree before my daughter, who's a junior in high school, gets hers. I might make it, but I don't think so. Once I can handle a full course load it will go faster, but first I'd have to quit my job and I don't really want to do that just yet.
Our air-conditioning died the other day and we are frying. AZ with no air is kind of miserable. We have a swamp cooler, but with it being monsoon season it's too humid for it to work very well, so we are just using the blower for a breeze. It's not working very well at cooling off the house. I'm about to melt.
My youngest had her birthday yesterday and now all my kids are in double digits. I think it's safe to say there are no small children left in my house. I'm not sure how I feel about that. On the one side I'm in the home stretch, so to speak, but on the other there is not so much of the cute funny stuff. Now it's all about learner's permits, then licenses, late nights and college board exams.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
First Day of School!!
Yet again, school has begun. The buses are rolling and the homework brigade is out. All the kids seem excited to be back at it. The older ones are happy with their schedules, since they have classes and lunch with their friends, and the youngest is happy because her music teacher wasn't cut over the summer. She is bugged about one thing though: with 6th grade added to her school and taken from the middle school, she can't go out for a sports team since it's supposed to be the oldest two grades at her school. I think that she'll find out differently though.
I have two weeks before I have to go back, then I hit the ground running. A couple of weeks after that my schedule at work changes and I'll be going to work at 5:15am and getting schoolwork done before the kids get home. Tomorrow DH and I have to go out and get a bunch of supplies that the kids didn't know that they would need after today. C needs a graphing calculator, and only a specific type will do (they're $90, on sale!!). The rest need special notebooks, dry erase markers, more pencils, pens, special colored highlighters, etc. I know I like good supplies as much as the next girl, but could they just consider sending out lists a little ahead of time? They were able to get my older kids their summer reading lists, why is it so tough to get us a supply list?
Okay, rant over. I'm excited about my classes this semester, like Bio and Humanities. I also have Sociology class number 3....all about family relationships. This could be enlightening. Humanities is about pop culture and Bio is about the environment. I'm most excited about Soc, but with the other two I feel like I'm having fun getting the requirements out of the way.
Off to bed...have to get up early to shop...It tool 3 memo slots on my phone to hold the list!!
I have two weeks before I have to go back, then I hit the ground running. A couple of weeks after that my schedule at work changes and I'll be going to work at 5:15am and getting schoolwork done before the kids get home. Tomorrow DH and I have to go out and get a bunch of supplies that the kids didn't know that they would need after today. C needs a graphing calculator, and only a specific type will do (they're $90, on sale!!). The rest need special notebooks, dry erase markers, more pencils, pens, special colored highlighters, etc. I know I like good supplies as much as the next girl, but could they just consider sending out lists a little ahead of time? They were able to get my older kids their summer reading lists, why is it so tough to get us a supply list?
Okay, rant over. I'm excited about my classes this semester, like Bio and Humanities. I also have Sociology class number 3....all about family relationships. This could be enlightening. Humanities is about pop culture and Bio is about the environment. I'm most excited about Soc, but with the other two I feel like I'm having fun getting the requirements out of the way.
Off to bed...have to get up early to shop...It tool 3 memo slots on my phone to hold the list!!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
It's been forever
I know it's been forever since I posted. With work, the kids home for the summer, our vacation and summer semester at college, I've been running my head off. The summer semester is almost over, the kids go back to school in a couple of weeks, and I start a new semester. Also, there have been some big shake-ups where I work and a lot of people seem to be upset. I'm okay with most of it, but I do have an issue with people who take everything personally, even when it has nothing to do with them. We have one that goes gonzo anytime something happens and it doesn't even reflect on her. She drives me nuts, but I guess I have to deal with it.
On Monday I have my Algebra final, and I think I will do okay on it, my score in the class it abysmal according to the website, BUT, the score was calculated based on the total score ALL the work, whether you have done it or not, not by how you did based on what you've done so far. In other words, until all my work is in I think my score is bogus. I have 70% of the work completed, and a 60% in the class. Some how I think if the total were weighted I'd be doing much better, so I have decided not to let the grade bother me at the moment. 60/70=85, or a solid B. So, I am going on that theory for a while. It gives me the guts to keep studying for my final on Monday.
My other classes are fine. I have good solid grades in them, so as long as I do okay on the finals I'll sail through. I don't even need to take the final in one class, it's optional, but I will since I think it will raise my grade.
My kids are excited to go back to school. My oldest is going to be a Junior. I have a hard time with this, she's going to be out of school and out of the house in no time it seems. My youngest is going into 4th grade, she's one of the "big kids" at her school now. My middle girl will be in 8th, and my son in 10th...in October he can take his permit test. I will have to kids that will be able to drive. This is nuts! But, it's the way it goes. C is planning on which college to go to now that she can start taking her SAT's. A has known where he wants to go for years, and D is now deciding, in the 8th grade! Either I did something right, or I have pushed way too hard. Although I don't think I really pushed, they know what they want to do and how to get to do it. One wants to be a therapist, one a vet, and one an engineer (as in space shuttles). I guess if they know how to get what they want it's a good thing.
I, on the other hand, do not know. I know what I want to study, but I don't know what I want to do with the degree when I get it. There are a lot of choices.
On Monday I have my Algebra final, and I think I will do okay on it, my score in the class it abysmal according to the website, BUT, the score was calculated based on the total score ALL the work, whether you have done it or not, not by how you did based on what you've done so far. In other words, until all my work is in I think my score is bogus. I have 70% of the work completed, and a 60% in the class. Some how I think if the total were weighted I'd be doing much better, so I have decided not to let the grade bother me at the moment. 60/70=85, or a solid B. So, I am going on that theory for a while. It gives me the guts to keep studying for my final on Monday.
My other classes are fine. I have good solid grades in them, so as long as I do okay on the finals I'll sail through. I don't even need to take the final in one class, it's optional, but I will since I think it will raise my grade.
My kids are excited to go back to school. My oldest is going to be a Junior. I have a hard time with this, she's going to be out of school and out of the house in no time it seems. My youngest is going into 4th grade, she's one of the "big kids" at her school now. My middle girl will be in 8th, and my son in 10th...in October he can take his permit test. I will have to kids that will be able to drive. This is nuts! But, it's the way it goes. C is planning on which college to go to now that she can start taking her SAT's. A has known where he wants to go for years, and D is now deciding, in the 8th grade! Either I did something right, or I have pushed way too hard. Although I don't think I really pushed, they know what they want to do and how to get to do it. One wants to be a therapist, one a vet, and one an engineer (as in space shuttles). I guess if they know how to get what they want it's a good thing.
I, on the other hand, do not know. I know what I want to study, but I don't know what I want to do with the degree when I get it. There are a lot of choices.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
School's almost out.....
In nine more days my kids will be out of school. I am out of school for the moment, but I'll be taking summer classes. I'm afraid if I stop for the summer I'll forget the math I learned last semester, so I'm going to just blow through. I/m taking 2 other classes though...another sociology class and a music class. After I pass math this summer I have one more class to go and then I never have to take another math class again.
Sometimes I think it's funny to be 39 and finishing what amounts to my freshman year of college, but then I think about my grandfather. He was a doctor, but he didn't start med school until he was 42. I don't plan on med school, and even if I had my degree long ago I would have taken all the time off for the kids so it's just as well I waited until now. You can have it all, I just don't think it's practical to have it all at once. It's tough now working full time while I have kids and they are teenagers, except for Shortie who's nine. Their dad is home with them most afternoons, but I still miss then and wish I had less antisocial hours. On the plus side, when I finish school I can get a job with better hours, and more pay so it'll be easier to pay for 4 college educations that are coming up with four kids.....one will start in 2012, on in 2013, the next in 2015, and the last around 2018.
The older three know what they want to do with their lives, and good for them. It took me until I was 38 to get over what my mother kept telling me to do and do what I was interested in. Of course it helps that I'm the one paying my way know, she had more say when she was paying the bill, more say than I should have given her, but what can you do when you are 18 and really don't have a clue? You listen to Mom, even if she's wrong because you think she has your best interests at heart. Maybe she does, but when you have interests as diverse as ours were it doesn't go well. One thing I learned is to let my kids choose, not to tell them that no one will take them seriously if they choose one class over another. During my first try at a degree, Mom talked me into Psych 101 instead of Sociology 101 because Soc was the "lighter" class. Well, Sociology is my major, and I might have stayed in school if I could have taken things I was actually interested in. In the end it was all for the good, since I stayed home with kids I started having at 23, but sometimes I wonder what she'd say now. I can't find out, she's dead. But I still wonder. And I love what I'm taking, even if Dad does tease me and call me a closet communist.
Sometimes I think it's funny to be 39 and finishing what amounts to my freshman year of college, but then I think about my grandfather. He was a doctor, but he didn't start med school until he was 42. I don't plan on med school, and even if I had my degree long ago I would have taken all the time off for the kids so it's just as well I waited until now. You can have it all, I just don't think it's practical to have it all at once. It's tough now working full time while I have kids and they are teenagers, except for Shortie who's nine. Their dad is home with them most afternoons, but I still miss then and wish I had less antisocial hours. On the plus side, when I finish school I can get a job with better hours, and more pay so it'll be easier to pay for 4 college educations that are coming up with four kids.....one will start in 2012, on in 2013, the next in 2015, and the last around 2018.
The older three know what they want to do with their lives, and good for them. It took me until I was 38 to get over what my mother kept telling me to do and do what I was interested in. Of course it helps that I'm the one paying my way know, she had more say when she was paying the bill, more say than I should have given her, but what can you do when you are 18 and really don't have a clue? You listen to Mom, even if she's wrong because you think she has your best interests at heart. Maybe she does, but when you have interests as diverse as ours were it doesn't go well. One thing I learned is to let my kids choose, not to tell them that no one will take them seriously if they choose one class over another. During my first try at a degree, Mom talked me into Psych 101 instead of Sociology 101 because Soc was the "lighter" class. Well, Sociology is my major, and I might have stayed in school if I could have taken things I was actually interested in. In the end it was all for the good, since I stayed home with kids I started having at 23, but sometimes I wonder what she'd say now. I can't find out, she's dead. But I still wonder. And I love what I'm taking, even if Dad does tease me and call me a closet communist.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Immigration Debate
I'm sure everyone has heard all about Arizona's bill about illegal immigration, since cities and state all over are boycotting or threatening to boycott AZ over this. Los Angeles' boycott is kind of a joke to me, since it's got so many illegals they appear to be pandered to. I lived in the LA area for 20 years, and one thing that always got me was that I had to have insurance in case I got into an accident involving an illegal because they did not have papers of any kind (i.e. a drivers license, registration, etc) and therefore did not have the legally required insurance. So, even though I had to carry X-amount of liability in order to register my car, and pay for damage if I hit somebody, if somebody hit me I couldn't count on them being financially responsible because they didn't have to be. This is just the tip of the immigration iceberg. The plain truth is that without papers illegals get benefits that are actually denied to citizens and legal residents. This is not about being prejudiced, this is about the harsh reality that we can't take care of the whole world just because they manage to sneak in.
I have sympathy for illegals, I do. I get that many are fleeing from what they feel is an intolerable situation, and they feel there is no where else to go. But the plain truth is that we do not have the resources to take of this, and they in many cases do not contribute to the very resources they access.
I don't claim to know what the answer to this issue is, but I don't see how my state deciding to enforce existing Federal law is evil. This is a law that already exists. I have friends who are here legally and they have to carry resident alien ID at all times. Why is it asking to much that we follow laws of this land, and punish those that are in actuality breaking them by their very presence?
I have sympathy for illegals, I do. I get that many are fleeing from what they feel is an intolerable situation, and they feel there is no where else to go. But the plain truth is that we do not have the resources to take of this, and they in many cases do not contribute to the very resources they access.
I don't claim to know what the answer to this issue is, but I don't see how my state deciding to enforce existing Federal law is evil. This is a law that already exists. I have friends who are here legally and they have to carry resident alien ID at all times. Why is it asking to much that we follow laws of this land, and punish those that are in actuality breaking them by their very presence?
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Just life in general.....
Another day off, and I took an extra since my MIL is here. I've seen her once so far, but she'll be here today, and my Dad is coming to dinner, so it should be in interesting evening. She was here Thursday when I got home from work, and that was off the charts. My son met me in the driveway to tell me his best friend's mother died, and then while I trying to give him support I walk into the house and see my daughter sitting on the couch, very disgruntled, with enough foil in her hair to pick up cable, while MIL continues to weave more blonde into it. It's very hard to have a straight face when you see that, and I had to considering my son still had his arms wrapped around me and was still really upset.
I laughed. Son was upset until I pointed out I was laughing at his sister, and Oldest daughter was upset since she wasn't sure she wanted the weave anyway. Things calmed down after a few minutes and Son and I spent a few minutes talking in his room before I went and spent some time with MIL. She left about an hour later. She wasn't here when I got home tonight and I think I like that. I'm ready for her today.
The school semester is almost over, so while I have the time off I have to get some history and math done. I need to pass the class I'm in to go to the one I registered for, so I have got to study. I know I'll make it, but I'd like to do a little better. It will be a little tougher with MIL here, but I think I'll have some time in the mornings because she really takes her time getting ready. Like 4 hours worth. No, that's not an exaggeration. If her hair isn't perfect she starts all over again washing it and so forth. So I will have time to get things done before we see her.
I'm also glad I'm getting the extra day off. It has the bonus of shortening next week as well as my having an extra day to myself. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. Sometimes you just need a break. I don't get "bank holidays" or any holidays really, we are open every single day. If you work a holiday you get overtime, but if it's your regularly scheduled day you have to be there. So, no real holidays. Doesn't bother me too much most of the time, but you need a day here and there to decompress, hence, taking my personal days. It helps that I don't get sick often so I have them for this. I think the only sick day I took was when Dad ended up in hospital having his appendix out.
I laughed. Son was upset until I pointed out I was laughing at his sister, and Oldest daughter was upset since she wasn't sure she wanted the weave anyway. Things calmed down after a few minutes and Son and I spent a few minutes talking in his room before I went and spent some time with MIL. She left about an hour later. She wasn't here when I got home tonight and I think I like that. I'm ready for her today.
The school semester is almost over, so while I have the time off I have to get some history and math done. I need to pass the class I'm in to go to the one I registered for, so I have got to study. I know I'll make it, but I'd like to do a little better. It will be a little tougher with MIL here, but I think I'll have some time in the mornings because she really takes her time getting ready. Like 4 hours worth. No, that's not an exaggeration. If her hair isn't perfect she starts all over again washing it and so forth. So I will have time to get things done before we see her.
I'm also glad I'm getting the extra day off. It has the bonus of shortening next week as well as my having an extra day to myself. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. Sometimes you just need a break. I don't get "bank holidays" or any holidays really, we are open every single day. If you work a holiday you get overtime, but if it's your regularly scheduled day you have to be there. So, no real holidays. Doesn't bother me too much most of the time, but you need a day here and there to decompress, hence, taking my personal days. It helps that I don't get sick often so I have them for this. I think the only sick day I took was when Dad ended up in hospital having his appendix out.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Days off aren't always off.....
I had today off. It was one of my regular days off, but I ran around so much I almost may have well gone to work. First we took Oldest Daughter to the MVD to take her permit test, and she flunked for the second time. I really miss when schools taught driver's ed, I think it made thing easier for us.I had to take it to graduate, but now most schools don't have the money so a skill kids will really need is no longer taught.
After the MVD we took the kids (teacher in service day) and went to do some shopping before we went to a movie. We saw Clash of the Titans, and I think I liked the old one better. It relied more on story and less on CGI tech to make the movie worth watching. I miss older movies, they seemed to do more with what they had to work with.
Then we got home around 4:30pm and everyone went their separate ways. We did fend for yourself for dinner, since we had a big lunch while we were out. I ended up teaching Son and Middle Daughter how to make popcorn....the old way, in a pan. Middle Daughter's first try almost burned the house down, we are still smelling the smoke, but we did eventually have popcorn. Between coming home and the popcorn I worked on my Algebra homework.....as soon as I develop the courage I have to take a test. I dread this. The test is supposed to be on the first half of the chapter, but the online program doesn't seem to think so. I have been trying to learn the last half of the chapter but it's not going well, which is annoying since when it was only the first part of the chapter I had a shot at getting an A for the first time in a while where this class is concerned.
Another thing I did was register for my Summer semester classes. I am taking my next Algebra class, Music of World Cultures, and Human Sexuality. All are required for my degree, but the last one is the only Sociology class available online this summer, except for the one I already took. (My major is sociology, so I have to take something) I am going away for a week this summer with my in-laws, and taking my schoolwork with me, and this is one of the things I'm studying. Why couldn't it have been something else, like family relationships or something? DH's whole family is going to be up there, his two sisters, brother, brother-in-law, father and stepmother. I guess I had better put a cover on the book or get ribbed to the end of the Earth about 18-year itches. (DH and I have been married for that long)
I wok tomorrow night, and before I go in I need to work on my English paper and do some History. I got an A on my first History paper, now I need to write my second and get some other stuff done. I love school, but I really need to get on the ball here. At least if I tank the next few assignments I'll still pass. I want to keep the A and B I have however, since math is at best going to be a C. Right now all I know is that it's almost 10pm and I'm still doing schoolwork.
After the MVD we took the kids (teacher in service day) and went to do some shopping before we went to a movie. We saw Clash of the Titans, and I think I liked the old one better. It relied more on story and less on CGI tech to make the movie worth watching. I miss older movies, they seemed to do more with what they had to work with.
Then we got home around 4:30pm and everyone went their separate ways. We did fend for yourself for dinner, since we had a big lunch while we were out. I ended up teaching Son and Middle Daughter how to make popcorn....the old way, in a pan. Middle Daughter's first try almost burned the house down, we are still smelling the smoke, but we did eventually have popcorn. Between coming home and the popcorn I worked on my Algebra homework.....as soon as I develop the courage I have to take a test. I dread this. The test is supposed to be on the first half of the chapter, but the online program doesn't seem to think so. I have been trying to learn the last half of the chapter but it's not going well, which is annoying since when it was only the first part of the chapter I had a shot at getting an A for the first time in a while where this class is concerned.
Another thing I did was register for my Summer semester classes. I am taking my next Algebra class, Music of World Cultures, and Human Sexuality. All are required for my degree, but the last one is the only Sociology class available online this summer, except for the one I already took. (My major is sociology, so I have to take something) I am going away for a week this summer with my in-laws, and taking my schoolwork with me, and this is one of the things I'm studying. Why couldn't it have been something else, like family relationships or something? DH's whole family is going to be up there, his two sisters, brother, brother-in-law, father and stepmother. I guess I had better put a cover on the book or get ribbed to the end of the Earth about 18-year itches. (DH and I have been married for that long)
I wok tomorrow night, and before I go in I need to work on my English paper and do some History. I got an A on my first History paper, now I need to write my second and get some other stuff done. I love school, but I really need to get on the ball here. At least if I tank the next few assignments I'll still pass. I want to keep the A and B I have however, since math is at best going to be a C. Right now all I know is that it's almost 10pm and I'm still doing schoolwork.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Why does a bike ride hurt so much?
Today I was going to go get on the treadmill for half an hour when my son asked me to go for a bike ride with him. He'd gotten a new bike for his birthday, so I agreed. After half an hour or so of getting air in my bike tires we set off...we went barely a mile before my lungs wanted to explode and my legs hurt. When I was a kid I used to bike everywhere, and now I can barely get around the block. I guess I need to spend more time on my bike in the future. It was either a great workout or I'm really a wimp since I was so wiped out afterward I slept for 2 hours.
Everyone else was busy today. We've had so much rain the yard is out of control so DH and the kids did the mowing. This involves about 2 hours and a riding mower. (We live on 5 acres, and we mow 2 and a half of it, the rest is to full of big bushes and stuff)
The only thing I accomplished today is getting my math homework and a quiz done. I got 100% on the homework and 85% on the quiz. Not bad for someone who can hardly add. I am actually going to pass this class, maybe even with a decent grade rather than a C or something. Not that I don't think C is a decent grade, it's fine, but that's the minimum needed to go to the next class. For me getting a B or better is a marvelous thing, since I really stink at math and this class has been a lot of hard work. It's the first of three classes I need to get my degree, and I have to do well in them. Most of my other classes are fairly easy for me. I read the info, I apply it, and move on. Math is tough because no only does it involves numbers it builds on itself. If you don't get one part it can mess up the rest. If I keep plugging away and doing as well as I am I might pull a B in the class. That would be a first.
Tomorrow the kids will be off school for a teacher in-service day. So I get an extra day to be with them. Next week the MIL visits from California, and I'm taking a vacation day, so another day to see my family. I have to admit right now my hours are getting to me a little. By the time I really start to hate it school will be out and I'll see the kids every day and it will stop bugging me for a while. I have told DH he needs to get more clients so I can go to school full time. I would like to finish all this a little quicker, since I'm going to be 40 in January. I know my grandfather started med school at 42, and age is just a number, but I feel like I need to get this done in a regular amount of time, rather than the 6 years it may take me going part time. And that's just for my Bachelor's degree. Although it would be easier with a different schedule. I can make it work with this one for a while though. I can finish my AA degree while I work at this, then figure out something else when I have to. besides, by the time I have to do my last 2 years things might have changed and my schedule might be more flexible, it's not something to worry about now.
It's funny when I realize that my oldest and I might be in college together though.
Everyone else was busy today. We've had so much rain the yard is out of control so DH and the kids did the mowing. This involves about 2 hours and a riding mower. (We live on 5 acres, and we mow 2 and a half of it, the rest is to full of big bushes and stuff)
The only thing I accomplished today is getting my math homework and a quiz done. I got 100% on the homework and 85% on the quiz. Not bad for someone who can hardly add. I am actually going to pass this class, maybe even with a decent grade rather than a C or something. Not that I don't think C is a decent grade, it's fine, but that's the minimum needed to go to the next class. For me getting a B or better is a marvelous thing, since I really stink at math and this class has been a lot of hard work. It's the first of three classes I need to get my degree, and I have to do well in them. Most of my other classes are fairly easy for me. I read the info, I apply it, and move on. Math is tough because no only does it involves numbers it builds on itself. If you don't get one part it can mess up the rest. If I keep plugging away and doing as well as I am I might pull a B in the class. That would be a first.
Tomorrow the kids will be off school for a teacher in-service day. So I get an extra day to be with them. Next week the MIL visits from California, and I'm taking a vacation day, so another day to see my family. I have to admit right now my hours are getting to me a little. By the time I really start to hate it school will be out and I'll see the kids every day and it will stop bugging me for a while. I have told DH he needs to get more clients so I can go to school full time. I would like to finish all this a little quicker, since I'm going to be 40 in January. I know my grandfather started med school at 42, and age is just a number, but I feel like I need to get this done in a regular amount of time, rather than the 6 years it may take me going part time. And that's just for my Bachelor's degree. Although it would be easier with a different schedule. I can make it work with this one for a while though. I can finish my AA degree while I work at this, then figure out something else when I have to. besides, by the time I have to do my last 2 years things might have changed and my schedule might be more flexible, it's not something to worry about now.
It's funny when I realize that my oldest and I might be in college together though.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Okay, so I've been a little neglectful.....
Maybe a lot neglectful. Between work and school and kids and other stuff I just didn't take the time to write. I also thought no one would be interested. No one has been in the past. but, that's not the point of this. I started this to have fun, and I think for me fun had gone to the wayside for a while.
Today was interesting. I as changing the bed and since I use a water bed frame with a regular mattress, this involves hoisting the mattress up to get the fitted sheet around it. After got the sheet on I let the mattress drop, and there were a bunch of scratching sounds coming from under it. Our cat had jumped in while the mattress was up. Poor thing, had I known he was there I would not have put the mattress down without getting him out first.
Last night was a mom thing, we went to see the school play to cheer on our daughter, who had a single line in the show. Now, the whole family is out for another kid's school function and I am getting ready for work. My day off is tomorrow and I can't wait. In order to get last night off I traded shifts with someone and worked from 5:30am until 2, then went to the play later on and finally got to bed around 11. Screaming kids woke me at 7 am, so I need at least one more night to catch up. Don't let people with big kids fool you...they don't get to sleep on weekends either. They just want you to think they do so people with very young children will see a light at the end of a tunnel. The light at the end of the tunnel is when they move out.
Don't get me wrong. I love my kids. It's just easier when they let me get enough sleep.
Today was interesting. I as changing the bed and since I use a water bed frame with a regular mattress, this involves hoisting the mattress up to get the fitted sheet around it. After got the sheet on I let the mattress drop, and there were a bunch of scratching sounds coming from under it. Our cat had jumped in while the mattress was up. Poor thing, had I known he was there I would not have put the mattress down without getting him out first.
Last night was a mom thing, we went to see the school play to cheer on our daughter, who had a single line in the show. Now, the whole family is out for another kid's school function and I am getting ready for work. My day off is tomorrow and I can't wait. In order to get last night off I traded shifts with someone and worked from 5:30am until 2, then went to the play later on and finally got to bed around 11. Screaming kids woke me at 7 am, so I need at least one more night to catch up. Don't let people with big kids fool you...they don't get to sleep on weekends either. They just want you to think they do so people with very young children will see a light at the end of a tunnel. The light at the end of the tunnel is when they move out.
Don't get me wrong. I love my kids. It's just easier when they let me get enough sleep.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
New Year's resolutions...
It has been forever, I know, but it took me a while to get the hang of working full time, parenting, and going to school all at once. Then, I was asked to make a Christmas present for a relative. I didn't mind doing it, but it was also very time consuming.
Now the holidays are over, the semester is over, and I have the hang of things now, at least I hope so, since I added a class this semester and I'll be taking 2 instead of three. Amongst my classes this semester is an Algebra class. A remedial Algebra class. I know, I know, but seriously, it's been 20 years. How many people do you know that still remember what they took in high school math? I never needed to use it, didn't practice it, so need to take it again. No total loss. I have 2 more math classes to take after this and I think I'd rather have a refresher before I go into them.
Christmas was fun. We got the kids a Wii. They like it, and my husband and I are also playing a bit of golf or tennis with it ourselves. My only beef with it is that I'm left handed, and while it does allow you to set it for lefties it seems to have some trouble reading the controller when it's in my left hand.
But I could just be so used to doing things right handed that I'm doing it wrong left handed.
But I digress. We had a ton of relatives here, of all ages, from grandparents to teenagers to a 3 year old. The house was packed, noisy, kids were running all over. It was great.
Vacation ends Monday the 4th, and my new semester begins the 21th. So, the kids get back into the grind and then I start a few weeks after. Into the new year we go!
Now the holidays are over, the semester is over, and I have the hang of things now, at least I hope so, since I added a class this semester and I'll be taking 2 instead of three. Amongst my classes this semester is an Algebra class. A remedial Algebra class. I know, I know, but seriously, it's been 20 years. How many people do you know that still remember what they took in high school math? I never needed to use it, didn't practice it, so need to take it again. No total loss. I have 2 more math classes to take after this and I think I'd rather have a refresher before I go into them.
Christmas was fun. We got the kids a Wii. They like it, and my husband and I are also playing a bit of golf or tennis with it ourselves. My only beef with it is that I'm left handed, and while it does allow you to set it for lefties it seems to have some trouble reading the controller when it's in my left hand.
But I could just be so used to doing things right handed that I'm doing it wrong left handed.
But I digress. We had a ton of relatives here, of all ages, from grandparents to teenagers to a 3 year old. The house was packed, noisy, kids were running all over. It was great.
Vacation ends Monday the 4th, and my new semester begins the 21th. So, the kids get back into the grind and then I start a few weeks after. Into the new year we go!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Going back to school.....
Me, not my kids. I made a decision and if I can get it worked out I am going back to finish my degree this September. I have two days off from work during the week and a computer, so there is no reason why I can't do this.
Yes, for some reason I'm terrified. It has been very easy to just shrug off the fact I never finished, but it has bothered me for a long time. So, I am commiting to myself that I will do it. At the very least my kids will see that I have homework to do and consider my education as important as theirs, instead of thinking I'm making them do something I couldn't be bothered too.
Yes, for some reason I'm terrified. It has been very easy to just shrug off the fact I never finished, but it has bothered me for a long time. So, I am commiting to myself that I will do it. At the very least my kids will see that I have homework to do and consider my education as important as theirs, instead of thinking I'm making them do something I couldn't be bothered too.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
The Local Wildlife and Weather
So, 2 weeks ago when I was finishing up at my old job, I got a call from my daughter telling me what we were going to have for dinner. I was not happy about the interruptions, but I bit anyway. Her answer?
Barbecued rattlesnake.
I have to admit, that got my attention. "Where did you find a rattlesnake? Is everyone okay?"
Everyone was fine, my younger daughters went out to water the garden and Sarah walked around the outside looking for asparagus that was long enough to cut when she heard a rattle from inside the fence. She saw the snake coiled in the corn, and ran screaming for her father, Danni running after her as soon as she realized Sarah was yelling rattlesnake. DH went out and killed it with a shovel and then Casie called to tell me about it.
Then, later that night, we found a scorpion on Casie's bedroom floor. It was a tiny little thing, but it just goes to show we are still adjusting to living here in the desert.
Another charming thing about living here, (and I mean this, I'm not being sarcastic at all, really) is the Arizona Monsoon. We get rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms a few times a week. Everything cools off, I don't have to water the garden, it's wet enough to weed it. However, (and you knew this was coming) I like it much better when the house doesn't have power surges that knock out 3 outlets, a phone line, and fry our security system. I do enjoy telling the story though, but that also happened while I was at work. I just walked in the door that night to "Mommy, guess what! Daddy got struck by lightning" He didn't, he was holding a doorknob and got a shock, but I might have gotten a bigger one walking in the door to that news!
Barbecued rattlesnake.
I have to admit, that got my attention. "Where did you find a rattlesnake? Is everyone okay?"
Everyone was fine, my younger daughters went out to water the garden and Sarah walked around the outside looking for asparagus that was long enough to cut when she heard a rattle from inside the fence. She saw the snake coiled in the corn, and ran screaming for her father, Danni running after her as soon as she realized Sarah was yelling rattlesnake. DH went out and killed it with a shovel and then Casie called to tell me about it.
Then, later that night, we found a scorpion on Casie's bedroom floor. It was a tiny little thing, but it just goes to show we are still adjusting to living here in the desert.
Another charming thing about living here, (and I mean this, I'm not being sarcastic at all, really) is the Arizona Monsoon. We get rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms a few times a week. Everything cools off, I don't have to water the garden, it's wet enough to weed it. However, (and you knew this was coming) I like it much better when the house doesn't have power surges that knock out 3 outlets, a phone line, and fry our security system. I do enjoy telling the story though, but that also happened while I was at work. I just walked in the door that night to "Mommy, guess what! Daddy got struck by lightning" He didn't, he was holding a doorknob and got a shock, but I might have gotten a bigger one walking in the door to that news!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Another week begins tomorrow and I feel like the last one never ended. We went to see Up! on Friday, to my dad's on Saturday, and today my DH and the older two kids went on a long bike ride, getting home in the late afternoon, which kind of shot the rest of the day. I just felt all blah today, not like doing much, and I feel like I didn't have much of a weekend. The movie was cute though, I recommend it, it has a plot that grown-ups can get into, at least I did.
We discovered yesterday that the gophers (my mortal enemies) are drinking out of the dog's water bowl at night. So, no more water bowl, we have a thingie on the hose that lets the dog use it as a drinking fountain, and I think that's better, now he'll have fresh water all the time, not just when the bowl gets filled in the morning.
Shortie and I were out in the garden yesterday and she was getting a big kick out of cutting asparagus for dinner. Nothing else in the garden is edible yet, but she is loving the Asparagus. She also keeps checking the apple tree, and gets very frustrated when I won't let her pick the green apples.
We discovered yesterday that the gophers (my mortal enemies) are drinking out of the dog's water bowl at night. So, no more water bowl, we have a thingie on the hose that lets the dog use it as a drinking fountain, and I think that's better, now he'll have fresh water all the time, not just when the bowl gets filled in the morning.
Shortie and I were out in the garden yesterday and she was getting a big kick out of cutting asparagus for dinner. Nothing else in the garden is edible yet, but she is loving the Asparagus. She also keeps checking the apple tree, and gets very frustrated when I won't let her pick the green apples.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Summer Fun
Last night I spoke to a friend in California who is coming for a visit when her kids get out of school in a few weeks. We were trying to figure out what there is to do here besides hang out in the yard. We don't have a pool, so we planned on a visit to the public one in town and looked into a few things worth seeing, like a local zoo and museum, and finally we settled on going tubing down the Salt River. Between that and getting to play paintball (in our backyard) they should have a pretty good time.
While we talked the issues of schools and stuff came up. My friend doesn't want to send her sons to the local high school, they're too overcrowded, just for a start, and I know that when I lived there the thought of sending my kids to those schools bothered me, that's why we were homeschooling our as soon as they hit middle school, we just moved before anyone else got there and here we are fine about sending the kids to the public schools here.
But I digress, what else is there to do here in the summer? I guess we could go to Phoenix to Castles and Coasters, or to other places, like Sedona or Jerome. There's plenty to do if you just go do it. There's always some of the national parks, there are several around here where you can see how the Native Americans lived.
And then there's the fact that they can actually go for bike rides around here, or walk to the store for ice creams or candy, and play water pistols and hang in the tree house. It's just a little more old-fashioned fun, from before video games and movie channels.
While we talked the issues of schools and stuff came up. My friend doesn't want to send her sons to the local high school, they're too overcrowded, just for a start, and I know that when I lived there the thought of sending my kids to those schools bothered me, that's why we were homeschooling our as soon as they hit middle school, we just moved before anyone else got there and here we are fine about sending the kids to the public schools here.
But I digress, what else is there to do here in the summer? I guess we could go to Phoenix to Castles and Coasters, or to other places, like Sedona or Jerome. There's plenty to do if you just go do it. There's always some of the national parks, there are several around here where you can see how the Native Americans lived.
And then there's the fact that they can actually go for bike rides around here, or walk to the store for ice creams or candy, and play water pistols and hang in the tree house. It's just a little more old-fashioned fun, from before video games and movie channels.
Monday, May 25, 2009
working Moms vs Stay-at-home Moms
I used to be a stay at home mom, I worked while my kids were at school for a couple of years, but that was about it for a long time. Now my kids are all older, the youngest is nine, the oldest 15, and I'm trying for a new job that will mean I will be out of my house for 10 hours a day. My current job is short on hours and even when I get 40 it's stretched out over 6 days and the hours are very flexible, which is why I decided to do it in the first place. My husband has a very flexible schedule, and so far things have worked out well, but this new job, if I get it, (and I want it) has me worried. I would have set hours and be home for dinner every night, but not home when my kids get home from school most likely. They get off their bus around 4, so they wouldn't be home long and the older ones are competent babysitters who know the rules but I still feel a bit of trepidation. Probably because for a long time I felt most mothers didn't have to work outside the house and should have saved the money they spent on day care and stayed home. I am working because I have bills to pay, not because of some misguided "men are evil you must take care of yourself" thing. I have gotten jobs, even after being out of the workforce for several years, with very little effort on my part. So I know that at least some of the "keep working or you won't get hired again" is, to a degree, false.
Now I'm faced with the fact that I need to work at this time, and while I know I have good kids and a solid support system of a husband who works from home part of the tie and who can arrange his days around emergencies, (not that I couldn't) and most likely be home when they get here, I still worry. I'm the mom. I'm the one who has 15 years of running a household. How can he do it? Why am I not doing it?
I have to get it through my head that now we do it together. Dear Husband can do everything in the house but laundry, and all the kids except the 9 year old know how to do that. All the kids have chores too, it's not like I do it all.
Most women who work look at their career and family and think they have it all. I can't help but look at my family and wonder, if I get this job, what I'm going to miss.
Now I'm faced with the fact that I need to work at this time, and while I know I have good kids and a solid support system of a husband who works from home part of the tie and who can arrange his days around emergencies, (not that I couldn't) and most likely be home when they get here, I still worry. I'm the mom. I'm the one who has 15 years of running a household. How can he do it? Why am I not doing it?
I have to get it through my head that now we do it together. Dear Husband can do everything in the house but laundry, and all the kids except the 9 year old know how to do that. All the kids have chores too, it's not like I do it all.
Most women who work look at their career and family and think they have it all. I can't help but look at my family and wonder, if I get this job, what I'm going to miss.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Last week of School
School lets out this week! Yay! I get 2 months of not having to get up at the crack of dawn to get my kids to school 30 miles away. I really don't mind the drive, just getting out the door by 7 AM.
Another bonus is that most kids with Juvenile Migraines can go off their meds in the summer, so there's a possibility that there will be no headaches for my son. I think his having a few months of remission will do wonders for him, although he's been doing very well since his last medication change. Also since the grade books closed.
The kids are all looking forward to their vacation. We have friends coming to visit for a fair amount of the summer, as well as my in-laws. I think we will be pretty busy. The kids will have plenty to do too, between helping with the garden (we got it out of the pots and into the ground) and playing around the yards and the tree house. We usually have a mandatory reading time during the day, when it's hottest out they have to come in and read for a while. Some days we do movies. The only thing they haven't realized they will be able to do is play with the hose; but they might have written that off since you CAN NOT run around in bare feet around here because of the goat heads and other thorny things. I guess they forgot about their surf socks. I guess I will have to point that out to them. Just another fun thing to do. I should probably pick up some water pistols too.
Another bonus is that most kids with Juvenile Migraines can go off their meds in the summer, so there's a possibility that there will be no headaches for my son. I think his having a few months of remission will do wonders for him, although he's been doing very well since his last medication change. Also since the grade books closed.
The kids are all looking forward to their vacation. We have friends coming to visit for a fair amount of the summer, as well as my in-laws. I think we will be pretty busy. The kids will have plenty to do too, between helping with the garden (we got it out of the pots and into the ground) and playing around the yards and the tree house. We usually have a mandatory reading time during the day, when it's hottest out they have to come in and read for a while. Some days we do movies. The only thing they haven't realized they will be able to do is play with the hose; but they might have written that off since you CAN NOT run around in bare feet around here because of the goat heads and other thorny things. I guess they forgot about their surf socks. I guess I will have to point that out to them. Just another fun thing to do. I should probably pick up some water pistols too.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Summertime cometh
So, school will be out in a little over a week. My kids will be running free for 2 months. We have some plans, friends coming, paintball games, frisbee golf to play, and a huge house to cool. We are thinking of using our swamp cooler, now that we are in a place where we can, but when Monsoon comes it will be to humid. However, the rains cool everything off, so maybe we won't cook.
The end of the school year always seems busier than any other time, we have school things to go to, activities are ending for the year and have things to give the kids closure. We have been out a lot in the last few weeks for band concerts, school fairs, and we still have a Girl Scout function and maybe a sports banquet. (same night as GS) If that's the case we will have to tag-team it.
Now that we love out in the wild, we have to think about more things to do at home. It's 60 mils round trip just to get groceries, so we can't just run off every time we et bored. We have to figure out how to stay entertained. It seemed easier when I was a kid. We didn't have all the things kids have now, and I don't remember being bored that much. Maybe I just need to introduce my kids to roller skates and a radio.
The end of the school year always seems busier than any other time, we have school things to go to, activities are ending for the year and have things to give the kids closure. We have been out a lot in the last few weeks for band concerts, school fairs, and we still have a Girl Scout function and maybe a sports banquet. (same night as GS) If that's the case we will have to tag-team it.
Now that we love out in the wild, we have to think about more things to do at home. It's 60 mils round trip just to get groceries, so we can't just run off every time we et bored. We have to figure out how to stay entertained. It seemed easier when I was a kid. We didn't have all the things kids have now, and I don't remember being bored that much. Maybe I just need to introduce my kids to roller skates and a radio.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
A wild life with local wildlife
The joys of country living! Since we've lived in the new house, I have seen, in the wild, Javelinas, gophers, quail, roadrunners, gophers, jackrabbits, and something that was too small to be a rat and to big to be a mouse that crawled out of a flooded gopher hole. We also have toads hopping all over after dark, and apparently we will be seeing pheasant soon. We have the little cottontail bunnies here too, but I haven't seen them in the yard yet. I like seeing the rabbits, and as long as they stay out of my garden, which the previous resident thoughtfully closed in with about 2 feet of fencing under ground level, we will get along fine.
The wild pigs were a surprise. We were driving out and one was standing by the roadside while his cohorts ate a neighbor's flowers. Of course we saw them after the hype about the swine flu hit, not that I think they carry it or anything. It was just very funny timing that we see them while the world is hysterical about getting the flu from pigs.
I planted my garden last week, in pots for now, to be moved to the garden patch when they are big enough. I planted corn, zucchini peppers, pickle cucumbers, regular cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes, pumpkins, and radishes. I think the kids will have fun with the pumpkins.
The fruit trees are doing okay, despite the fact the gophers are trying to eat the roots. I'm trying to get rid of them, but it's not easy. Ran a hose down a gopher hole to try flooding them out and was surprised when whatever it was crawled out...it wasn't a gopher. My youngest came out and was looking at it, when her dog ran over, grabbed it and took off. I think they heard her screaming in Phoenix. I told her to go get her dad, (I knew he couldn't do anything but at least she wasn't screaming at me) and the dog took off every time I went after him. (I may not like rodents, but that's a horrible way to go and I don't want the dog to get sick) After a while Shortie calmed down and asked me to flood another gopher hole. Go figure. I don't think I'll be doing that again, but I want to knock down the gopher population. I don't like the holes in my yard or that the dogs think of them as snacks. That's just too gross for me.
The wild pigs were a surprise. We were driving out and one was standing by the roadside while his cohorts ate a neighbor's flowers. Of course we saw them after the hype about the swine flu hit, not that I think they carry it or anything. It was just very funny timing that we see them while the world is hysterical about getting the flu from pigs.
I planted my garden last week, in pots for now, to be moved to the garden patch when they are big enough. I planted corn, zucchini peppers, pickle cucumbers, regular cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes, pumpkins, and radishes. I think the kids will have fun with the pumpkins.
The fruit trees are doing okay, despite the fact the gophers are trying to eat the roots. I'm trying to get rid of them, but it's not easy. Ran a hose down a gopher hole to try flooding them out and was surprised when whatever it was crawled out...it wasn't a gopher. My youngest came out and was looking at it, when her dog ran over, grabbed it and took off. I think they heard her screaming in Phoenix. I told her to go get her dad, (I knew he couldn't do anything but at least she wasn't screaming at me) and the dog took off every time I went after him. (I may not like rodents, but that's a horrible way to go and I don't want the dog to get sick) After a while Shortie calmed down and asked me to flood another gopher hole. Go figure. I don't think I'll be doing that again, but I want to knock down the gopher population. I don't like the holes in my yard or that the dogs think of them as snacks. That's just too gross for me.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Adjusting to new places
So, we have been in the new house for a week. It's a big adjustment, since we are taking our kids to their old schools, since the ones close by aren't so hot. It's a very small district, so anyone who wants their kids to have access to honors classes has to drive to the next one. A lot of the parents here do that.
Most of the boxes are unpacked, and we are almost completely out of the new house. All we have to do now is clean it up.
The kids are enjoying the property. With 5 acres and 2 dogs they are outside a lot, except for the oldest who is recovering from the flu. She's looking forward to being out in the yard when she has the energy.
Right now all I want is to get to that point where the trash collector catches up to the empty boxes.
Most of the boxes are unpacked, and we are almost completely out of the new house. All we have to do now is clean it up.
The kids are enjoying the property. With 5 acres and 2 dogs they are outside a lot, except for the oldest who is recovering from the flu. She's looking forward to being out in the yard when she has the energy.
Right now all I want is to get to that point where the trash collector catches up to the empty boxes.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Reading problem solved...I hope
My youngest daughter has a problem with reading. She's never been real good at it, and this year, her reading grade tanked. Obviously something is very wrong.
What is wrong, it turns out, is something called Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome or Irlen's Syndrome. It's where you seem to have a problem processing what you see, and a clear colored overlay can help.
It's funny, I asked my daughter if the letters were moving when she read, and she told me no. I thought she might be Dyslexic. She was tested for this, and she came home and said "Mommy, the letters stopped moving" I asked her what she meant, since she had told me they weren't. What she said was telling. "Mommy, I didn't know they were moving until they stopped." Huh.
So, now I need to find out all I can about this, so that I can help her catch up. She came home today and we read the Ramona book we are working on and she didn't get tired of reading 5 minutes in. There's a whole list of symptoms, like trouble tracking, losing your place, headaches, trying to read in dim light. It's really odd. There's no medical test for this, you have to be screened by someone who knows what they are doing, and apparently this diagnosis comes with some controversy.I don't care. She's reading better. It works for her.
What is wrong, it turns out, is something called Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome or Irlen's Syndrome. It's where you seem to have a problem processing what you see, and a clear colored overlay can help.
It's funny, I asked my daughter if the letters were moving when she read, and she told me no. I thought she might be Dyslexic. She was tested for this, and she came home and said "Mommy, the letters stopped moving" I asked her what she meant, since she had told me they weren't. What she said was telling. "Mommy, I didn't know they were moving until they stopped." Huh.
So, now I need to find out all I can about this, so that I can help her catch up. She came home today and we read the Ramona book we are working on and she didn't get tired of reading 5 minutes in. There's a whole list of symptoms, like trouble tracking, losing your place, headaches, trying to read in dim light. It's really odd. There's no medical test for this, you have to be screened by someone who knows what they are doing, and apparently this diagnosis comes with some controversy.I don't care. She's reading better. It works for her.
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