It is that time of year...where you find the 'leaks' in the home that need to be battened down to stave off the incrouchment of the outdoor freeze into the snug family abode. Since we are relatively new to this house, we are learning. There isn't anything major...just need a little silicone rebeading around a few windows, a new gasket around the front door...you know, normal stuff. Our first significant gas bill wasn't too bad. So far our utility bills for this house, compared to the last house we lived in for a wee bit over 4 years, are cheaper and not so shocking.
The leaf pickup came by this morning and cleared out the lightly snow covered piles along the curb. Our two different maple trees produced veritable mountains of them! While many of our neighbors used leaf blowers we did our leaf clearing the old fashioned way with rakes. It wasn't too bad, actually. I raked them twice on my own, the third time I raked the leaves up from one tree while TJ raked them up from the other tree. Troy went out and raked up after both trees once on his own and the second time with some help from TJ. The leaves have all fallen and there is a wee bit of snow on the ground...no more yard work for a bit.
We had talked about buying a snow blower but then, I am hesitant. We have never had long extended periods of snow build up. We USUALLY get one significant snow in the winter. Our driveway is not extensively long, although we DO have a LOT of sidewalk to keep clear since we now live on a corner and our lot is wide on both sides. We have as much sidewalk to keep clear as about 3 of our neighbors combined. However, I am thinking that with the four of us and two decent shovels, we should be able to keep it cleared. Next year, if, Lord willing, I am working outside the home, THEN we can get a snowblower. Troy isn't gone all the much in the winter but he has become less proactive as far as manual labor. LOL
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Last night our son shocked us with talk of MAYBE considering signing up for some sort of military service. His friend Mark will be leaving in a few weeks for the Navy and his friend Steven is talking with Army recruiters and is seriously considering going in after graduation. His cousin Kevin has been talking joining up with the Air Force and getting training as an airplane mechanic. TJ said he wasn't sure even if he DID join a branch of the service which one would be best for him to consider. His dad told him that it would be better for him to sign up with the Air Force and he could get training in the computer/video field. His dad was a Marine but he said that the Air Force would be the lesser of the evils as far as TJ is concerned.
I actually am impressed that TJ would even think about the service at all. To me it shows more of a maturity on his part. He also understands the economic climate and is thinking more ahead about his education.
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Today I continue my struggle with my database homework. I am slowly getting it but there is still one piece of code that is eluding me. I am determined, however, to figure it out! I may have to go back farther in my book to see if there is something I missed. My instructor seems to be none too forth coming with any help. I have always been rather stubborn about things, though, in that I have always wanted to do it on my own. Bethany, unfortunately, has that streak running through her. There are times when it is good BUT right now it is a hinderance. She is struggling with some Social Studies work (mostly becuz she hates social studies...another thing she inherited from me) and I cannot get her to produce the work she needs help with so I can sit down and give her some clarification and study tips. She has never wrapped her mind around the fact that I used to be a teacher since the only thing she has known me to do is some substitute teaching work when she was really young. I only taught regularly for a year right after she was born and then I quit and we moved to another state. She does know, however, that I am really good at being able to help her with her math homework. I can quickly and easily explain something to her that she isn't quite getting. Once I explain it, she goes "OOOOHHHHH!" and then she is off and running. TJ was always the same with math. After I sit and explain it to them they just sit there and blink and then there is "OOOOHHHH!" followed by "are you sure that's all there is to it cuz it seemed like it was a lot harder than that when the teacher explained it". I keep telling them that they are just making it seem harder in their own minds.
And now...speaking of making it seem harder in the mind...time for me to seek out my own homework solutions. I KNOW it isn't that difficult...it is JUST a database for pete's sake! It isn't like trying to unlock the 'secrets' of cancer cures.
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