SnoopyCool's Blog

School started this week. And, as always, a list of school supplies came home last Friday at the teacher meet-n-greet. On the list, among other things, a 16-count box of crayons.

In case you are out of the elementary school loop, a 24-count box of crayons costs around $0.22 - $0.25, on sale. A 16-count box cost around $1.50 (I know!). So I purchased the 24-count. If it really makes a difference, we can purge the extra 8 and call it a day.

DS's teacher (2nd grade) made it a point to say "I did not want the 24-count box, I asked for the 16". So DS assumes I need to rush right out and get the right count. Um, yeah right!

So... I'm trying to decide how best to handle this. I explained to DS that he has the 16 crayons he needs, and he's fine with that. I'm not sure how to handle the teacher. I don't want to be a thorn in her side, but I wonder if teachers know the price difference or if they don't care. What's the big deal if there's 8 extra crayons?

So help me - what am I missing here? How would you handle this? Would you rush out and buy the 16-count? I can tell you I'm not doing that, but I want the teacher to know I support her and that I'm not trying to run my own agenda. It just doesn't make sense to me.

I thought I'd share this recipe.

~1 pkg Kool-Aid (or store brand version)
~8 Tablespoons sugar
~3/8 teaspoons salt
~1/8 teaspoons salt substitute (example: No-Salt; be sure it contains potassium chloride)
~2 Quarts cold water

Mix everything together and refrigerate.

We bought a used 2004 Toyota Sienna in August because our old van died. We make payments on it. DH was laid-off in October, and has recently started a lawn care business.

Alas, our savings is running out and the van will have to go. But a way has been made for us to have another vehicle. DHs friend asked us to sell his grandma's van for him (1999 Chevy Astro) and said that DH could have half of whatever he could get for the van. So we're thinking of keeping it and selling the Toyota. The Astro has had a major overhaul and runs well, but it needs a paint job and the tint has turned purple (clearly that doesn't matter mechanically, just a vanity thing for me).

I'm sad to have such a reliable vehicle go, especially because we'll take a loss on it of about $2k (I do not know how that happened! KBB dropped the value $4k since August... do used vehicles depreciate THAT fast?). But I'm glad that there is another van just sitting at our house waiting for us. I much prefer my Sienna, obviously, but I prefer being able to live in my house and feed my children more!

Hopefully someday we'll be able to get another great vehicle. And even more, we'll pay cash for it!

I have a wonderful day to myself today, thanks to MIL taking the girls and DH and DS at a skateboard campout. Hooray for me! So I drop DHs truck off for a diagnostic. It just needs a tune-up (plugs, wires, air filter, fuel filter, serpentine belt, hose that goes to the pvc valve).

~$750

WHAT?

I don't even know why I took it in, because we could do all of that for about $100. I know better.

Saturday & Sunday: Trained and received the materials I needed for my new job.

Monday: First training for first student assigned to me. Usually, they want you to do 5 hours of observation with other trainers before you go at it yourself, but they didn't have time for me to do that.

Tuesday: Manager calls me up to ask if I had mentioned to student's mom that I was new. I did mention it to student in this manner, during introductions:

"I'm excited to be working with you! We're going to be going through this together for the first time. Cool, huh?" Student was excited. I should have known better!

MOM calls center and demands a different trainer, as her child will NOT be paired with a new trainer.

Manager is not happy, but says to me "Lesson learned. Let's move on. We have a couple of students in the pipeline and we'll get you a new one soon."

Now, how silly would you feel after this? Really, it was an innocent mistake, but I hate starting a new job in a way like this.

Note to self: do not mention that I'm new.

One HUGE *sigh*.

First, it's more money per hour and more hours per week. *Beneficial for my family.

MORE importantly, it isn't tutoring. It's what's called Brain Training. While anyone can do it, it works especially well with high-functioning autistic kids, kids with ADHD, dyslexia, and the list goes on and on. *Beneficial to those I get to work with.

Through a series of cognitive exercises, you train your brain to think better (more efficiently, enhance memory) because you have to really engage it to do these tasks. I was amazed! For instance, I had to take one of the tests and it involved flipping arrows 1/4 turn, then saying the new direction on the beat (a metronome was used), WHILE the trainer called out a series of numbers, that I had to SUM when I reached the end of the arrow line. It was harder than it sounds.

I'm not being paid to blog this, BTW. I just really dig it. The company is Learning Rx (add a dot com).

This one is really up my alley! It is for a learning center here in town (similar to Kumon or Sylvan). If I land this job, it will be to replace my current position. It's really bittersweet: I love my kids at work but it wears on my family with the hours and the attitudes at this job drive me nuts. I'm much more suited to help those that want help. But I don't have the job yet so we'll see.

Last night at work, the kids and I went to the computer center to do some family history work. One kid tells me that he doesn't want to do it because his mom was murdered when he was 5! Holy Cow! Then he Googled his mom's name and it was a big deal around these parts when it happened (I never made the connection with the last names until then). Heartbreaking.

There is just no wonder these kids are struggling the way they do... they have to face obstacles that I would have never dreamed of when I was 14. Many of them have faced molestation, beatings, murder and all sorts of bad things. Their bad attitudes are due to something much bigger than pride or ignorance. I'm at a loss as to what can be done to really make a difference with some of them. They're so jaded that they refuse to accept any help.

Okay... I'm ending this entry before it turns into a 5-page rambling on what I think I have to get ready for this interview!

Posted on Craigslist and got two hits immediately. I'm thankful for the ability to help people with something I love so much AND for the ability to get paid for it!

Technically, this is my fourth concurrent job. Right now, I:
Babysit
Work in an afterschool program
Work for a company that teaches engineering through LEGO
Tutor math

DH is up and running with his lawncare business, so hopefully all of this will be enough to get us through.

PS - I'm also very interested in taking H&R Block's tax prep course later in the year so hopefully I'll add that to the bag of tricks for next year. I think times like this call for flexibility.

Work again (afterschool enrichment program at a local middle school).

Remember that we're laid-off right now, and DH is starting a lawn care business. So I've no money to spend on the many fun concoctions I love to do at work with my kids. So I've submitted a list, received approval, for supplies I need. Head Honcho Lady (HHL) promises she'll buy our supplies (does not want me to purchase and then reimburse me for reasons unknown to me - I've already tried that route).

HHL has not delivered. The kids are getting a little tired of empty promises and so am I.

It doesn't stop there, oh no. I'm supposed to be teaching the Home Ec. portion of the enrichment program. So we're into week 5 and I STILL don't have the Home Ec. room at my disposal. HHL has spoken to the principal, who just needs to speak to the Home Ec. teacher. Principal is on-board to let us use it. We (the kids, really) have written a proposal/petition and handed it over to HHL to give to principal (trying to nudge principal and let her know we'll take care of the facility). Went to HHL's office and there the petition sat on her desk. She saw it and quickly moved it, thinking I hadn't seen it yet.

I'm about to pull my hair out! I am running out of ideas on how to work around this problem. Any suggestions?

In this pt job I have, I am the enrichment instructor in charge of Home Economics. I assume I was given this position because I've been a SAHM for 6 years so what else could I possibly do? Do you hear my sarcasm coming at you through your screen right now?

Anyway, I just LOVE science! So I have tortured my kids with thermodynamics (made ice cream), Civil Engineering (made asphalt cookies, complete with binder and aggregate), and now we will contemplate the invisible world of Electromagnetic Waves (yummy Rice Krispie treats).

They will NOT classify me as June Cleaver! (BTW, I love being a SAHM and hope I will be able to do it again soon). But until then... stick it, Martha.

It is important to me to teach my kids how to save and spend responsibly. Since the lay-off, we suspended allowance. Recently, and of his own accord, DS called his grandparents to ask if he could come over and work for an allowance from them.

Yesterday was his (and oldest DDs) first job. DS worked hard! DD worked a little (apparently we need to work with her more). DS received $15, DD received $5. When asked what he'll do with the money, DS replies "I want to put it in my bank account." My heart skipped a beat!

DS is 6 years old, DD is 5. They're on the right track!

I used to love playing with LEGOs, and my kids now play with them. A lot of fun! Recently, I applied for a job where you go into schools and build LEGO robots with kids. Can you imagine?!? That coincides perfectly with what I did in college (Manufacturing... robotics classes, specifically) and what I did as a kid.

So...

I received an e-mail today asking when the HR rep could call, and a list of available classes to teach in my area. Holy Cow! I am overjoyed! It fits perfectly into my schedule with the other job and with my kids' schedules. Wish me luck on this one!

Last night was chaotic. For starters, I did not realize that some of these "middle school" students are 16 - 17 years old! Some have been in middle school for almost 6 years.

Well, those particular kids are the kids the city has placed in this program to keep them off the streets. The problem is that too many other kids want to be as cool as them, so they mimic all their bad behaviors. The program director's hands are tied because she can't kick them out collectively (though she plans to eliminate a few).

I'm sad and angry. Sad because they will continue to fall through the cracks and likely end-up in prison. Angry because these kids act bad and really disrupt everything! But what do you do? Tainting those kids who have a greater hope is certainly something you want to avoid.

My new job is working in an afterschool program for at-risk students (middle school) that really should not go home for one reason or another (no one there, so they'll run the streets, etc.).

There are some kids with behavioral problems (disrespect, for one). The administrators DO NOT tolerate it, and kick the kids out if they don't comply. Part of me feels sorry for those guys, but there is a waiting list of kids that want to come and the disrespectful kids are ruining the experience for the others. Glad for followed-through rules.

I've been assigned to the 8th graders who are failing. But I also worked with 6th graders last night. Some of those guys cannot do the math that my 1st grader can do, much less to grade level. They couldn't do long division, they were counting on their fingers, etc. Some really, really couldn't understand that on a graph your numbers have to be equally spaced in order for the graph to make sense. So if these passing 6th graders are at this level, I shudder to see where the failing 8th graders are. Wow. I hope I can help, but I'm used to private tutoring people who care about their education. This is definitely a shift for me.

Okay, so I interviewed and landed a position! Hooray! I will be going to a local middle school and working with at-risk kids that don't have much of a home life. It is like extended day, but these kids stay until 7:15 pm. Can you imagine? The program pays for dinner for these kids, even. I'm glad I found a job which I can help someone who really needs it.

And tomorrow, I have an interview for another position for a field tech in a hearing aid company. This is a job with a friend of a friend, and they've pretty much decided I've got the job. They want me to come in and start after the interview.

AND DH is filling out an ap/interviewing with a construction company. The plan is to temporarily put the youngest babes in a friend's home for daycare part day while we both work to put our finances back in order. That kind of saddens me but I know it is temporary so I try to find relief in that. How temporary? I don't know.

Can anyone say "whew"?

What... is the universe out to get us or what? DHs old job is now being advertised! How in the H-e-double hockey sticks can they just ditch what they owe him under the guise of Chapter 11 and then refill the stupid position? Better yet, why do we even care?

We're changing our last name to Bitterman.

I have my first interview tomorrow afternoon for a math teacher in a magnet high school. The school is an inner-city school, but it has a good mix of kids because it's a magnet (a magnet school has specialized programs to attract students from around the city. This school's magnet is computer science.)

I'm excited and nervous about the interviewing process because I haven't done it in more than 6 years!!! If you have them, throw some tips my way. I'm sure I'll be Google-ing all day long! Probably working some math problems, too

...and I'm torn about it, but we've got to eat!

I've applied to be a high school math teacher. The schools open for this position today are two: one down the road and one on the other side of town. The one down the road is not very good, and the one across town I used to substitute for and am not impressed with, either (honestly, there's going to be discipline problems everywhere). So I think I'll take the one down the road (of course, if they want me. That isn't a guarantee, but the odds are good). I love math and love to teach it, but I wonder what % of time I'll be dealing with discipline.

One *HUGE* sigh..... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I'll keep you posted. I'm going to miss my own children during the day (

Got 40# of apples for $12, so I made some apple butter and canned it. Yum! I will also be making/canning apple sauce. I tried apple jelly but it just would not set so we're using it as apple syrup for pancakes.

In lieu of our current job situation, I will be making homemade goodies for Christmas. Honestly, I prefer that anyway, as it seems more Christmas-y to me than buying gifts. Though I do like buying gifts, too

Happy Holidays, everyone!!!

Well, in spite of his best efforts, the new job decided not to keep DH. The owner (a small business), said that while he knew DH could learn the job, he didn't have time to wait. I think he wasn't sure if he wanted to hire someone so this was just as much a trial run for DH as the owner. DH has decided to turn away from construction and find something else.

I don't know how to feel right now. Just a little numb from having gone through this twice in one month. It stinks, but it's life.

I picked about 7 today as well as a few peppers. Weird... it was close to freezing last night.

Google redbox codes (it might be that dot com) and use those codes. They work, just take a few with you in case one doesn't work where you are. One DVD per code. We've rented 3 so far for free.

This is what I netted for $16.62:

(1) Pull-ups
(1) Clorox 24 oz
(1) Pledge
(1) Sparkle window cleaner (on clearance for $1 and it has a $2 MIR!)
(2) Healthy Choice bowls
(4) Cream of Chicken soups (campbells)
(2) Colgate Kid's toothpaste
(1) Children's Tylenol
(1) Sure deodorant
(1) Colgate Kid's Toothbrush

I probably could have done better, but this was my first time and I had a 3 yo, 2 yo, and 1 yo with me. Not too shabby!

I am so proud. My beautiful quarts of boneless, skinless chicken breast (all 14 of them, approx. 28 pounds) make me smile. Rest went in the freezer.

PS - I bought a 40 pound box for $50 ($1.25/pound). Check your area for restaurant suppliers. That's where I got mine.

DDs school has a carpool line policy that makes you loop 2 blocks to come into the carpool line, designed to keep cars from blocking the buses coming in and out of the school.

Well, I get to school 1/2 hr early. Carpool line is vacant, no buses. So I don't make the 2 block loop (for which, you have to drive right in front of the school, initially passing the pull-in for cars). Some guy behind me, who is going to make the loop is honking (profanely, I might add) at me as I go into the line.

As I'm coming out of the line, he's pulling in, yelling at me that I "have to go around the block like everyone else." Okay, fine, but here's my issue: this guy is technically not doing what he's supposed to, either, because he's only making half of the aforementioned 2 block loop, cutting right in front of a highly foot-trafficed crosswalk.

So the moral of this story? Um... make sure you're soap box is higher than mine before you let me know the rules, k?

I walked into Walgreens today only to hear right off the bat how it's all Bush's fault for the economic troubles we face (3 Wags employees standing around talking). Now, I'm not taking a stance on this one - that's not my point.

Here's my point: how many people would rather find someone else to blame for their woes, when they could have really impacted/made better their own lives with a better attitude? Too much time is wasted looking to shed our accountability and blame someone else.

And how my priorities have changed in just 2 weeks. I have a whole new respect for saving as much as possible. In that way, I'm glad we went through this. No sense in being sad about the experience, but to glean what's positive, learn, and move on.

He got the job that he interviewed for (his only interview). He will be doing estimating so that's a fabulous new skill to add to his resume. I'm glad for him and relieved... big time!

Thanks again for your kind words of encouragement. You guys are fabulous!

No new interviews yet. DH is still sending out resumes. It's only been a week but it seems like an eternity.

The one interview he did have last week resulted with a call back to the interview guy, who tells DH his computer crashed, but is now fixed, and "please resend your resume". The guy had a copy that DH took to him for the interview. This prospect is not looking so hot, which is depressing. Statistically, I know it takes more than one job interview to land a job. I'm just blah about it today.

He is journaling his contacts and resumes sent for follow-up purposes. The best remedy for the blahs is to be proactive. Again, "keep on truckin'".

Hooray! It's for the same title (Project Manager), but in a different environment. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I forgot all about what I dislike in this process. Résumé writing, cover letters, references, in this case a detailed project list... lovely.

But this time of reflection gives you the opportunity to look at what you've accomplished. That's nice.

We sent out about 10 résumés today so far. Who knows how many will go out before DH finds a job? Happily, he's willing to change gears for a different career. We hope it will open up more doors.

Contacted the lawyer and he suggested sending a letter to the ex-company for a detailed schedule of when they plan to pay him. Then, within a week if nothing comes back, we contact lawyer back for next step. I'm also ultra-excited about that, in case you couldn't tell ;[

And just like the 70's t-shirt suggests, we'll keep on truckin'.