I can't complain...and who would care if I did?
Made it through the Graduation Open House then was busy with my own job search. I have had a few interviews but no job offers. STILL, getting some interviews is one step farther than I have been. Nothing sadder than sending out tons of applications and getting absolutely no response.
Jr. is also looking for work. He is going to try and work and save for a year so that he can have some money to put towards his 2 years at the Art Institute. I am hoping I pick up SOMETHING so that between the two of us we have money for his education.
Ms. Divine just had her first day of online classes today. She is wading her way through it all...trying to get used to it and understand. The first week is usually a time of them working out the electronic kinks. Today was no exception...although I must say that there were far fewer 'kinks' for her today than Jr. would encounter on his first week of school.
I am just still thankful that Sr. is working.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Gardens of Good and Evil
Troy and I have spent a lot of time on the yard in the past couple of months. It took a lot of digging and just getting in there with your hands and pulling. I dug up plants and relocated them to other areas around the house; we both dug up old block edging, measured and put in new edging and made it STRAIGHT so it looked better; I put in a few new plants; we both measured and laid garden fabric; then we dumped and spread new cyprus mulch. The neighbors got just too curious. They like to stop and talk. I think one neighbor was just very concerned as to what I was doing with the plants and if we were just going to 'destroy' everything.
The previous owner seemed to have a haphazard way of doing things and seemed to like the overgrown look. The neighbor behind us seems to like the 'English Garde/Jungle' look which, to me, is one of those "whatever blows your skirt up" things. It is their yard and if it makes them happy...but not for me.
We worked around the sides of the house first with a little time weeding in the front. The back of the house had some digging done in it and there will be a bit more but we have laid the foundation work for NEXT summer...we want to put in a small paver patio. But this year the big project in the back will be the fence...so the doggies can run and have fun and we get some privacy. Sitting on a corner lot doesn't allow for much of that.
Next summer, also, we will be digging up the old mulch in the front and putting in a small paver area with a bench. The low lying bushes have all died out and I have dug up one of them. The second bush that I dig up will allow room for the paver sitting area. Then the other two I dig up will have to be replaced with something else...I am leaning towards a couple of hydrangea bushes.
On another note...with some help from "Mom", TJ has found THE SCHOOL he wants to attend for his post-secondary education. It is The Art Institute in Mason, Ohio. He can learn what he wants in 6 quarters then get on with his life. He wants to go into film. This place teaches them lighting, sound, editing, camera work, script writing, and some digital animation. They send them off on location to do different projects (which is part of the hands-on learning process). They may work on music videos, movies, TV shows, etc doing the sound, the lighting the camera work, etc. Then they have a final film project of their own to create for graduation...which they use as part of their portfolio. If they do really well, the instructors will set them up with a job in the industry, somewhere, depending on the student interest and strength. TJ likes the idea that it is short-term, hands-on, and still close to home since he is not ready, yet, to just rush off totally on his own.
Bethany is planning on home-cyberschool for this next year. Her struggle with her asthma last year caused her problems with keeping up with some of her classes and she just wants to not have to worry so much about it so that she can keep up in classes and keep up a good GPA. We are going to work on getting her 'well'. She has lots of friends and things they all do to hang out so she will not be cut off. After a year of cyberschool she wants to be able to spend her last 2 years of HS at the CTC (Career Tech Center) working in the broadcasting field. I tried to talk her into the medical field but she turns her nose up. We will see.
I am the only one that seems to be somewhat uncertain of my future. I guess if nothing materializes before Fall I will sign up for substitute teaching and start working on a Masters Degree in Tech Education or Distance Learning. That way I can work my way into Post-Secondary instruction. It is funny the twists and turns life takes.
Anyway...I am caught up now. LOL
The previous owner seemed to have a haphazard way of doing things and seemed to like the overgrown look. The neighbor behind us seems to like the 'English Garde/Jungle' look which, to me, is one of those "whatever blows your skirt up" things. It is their yard and if it makes them happy...but not for me.
We worked around the sides of the house first with a little time weeding in the front. The back of the house had some digging done in it and there will be a bit more but we have laid the foundation work for NEXT summer...we want to put in a small paver patio. But this year the big project in the back will be the fence...so the doggies can run and have fun and we get some privacy. Sitting on a corner lot doesn't allow for much of that.
Next summer, also, we will be digging up the old mulch in the front and putting in a small paver area with a bench. The low lying bushes have all died out and I have dug up one of them. The second bush that I dig up will allow room for the paver sitting area. Then the other two I dig up will have to be replaced with something else...I am leaning towards a couple of hydrangea bushes.
On another note...with some help from "Mom", TJ has found THE SCHOOL he wants to attend for his post-secondary education. It is The Art Institute in Mason, Ohio. He can learn what he wants in 6 quarters then get on with his life. He wants to go into film. This place teaches them lighting, sound, editing, camera work, script writing, and some digital animation. They send them off on location to do different projects (which is part of the hands-on learning process). They may work on music videos, movies, TV shows, etc doing the sound, the lighting the camera work, etc. Then they have a final film project of their own to create for graduation...which they use as part of their portfolio. If they do really well, the instructors will set them up with a job in the industry, somewhere, depending on the student interest and strength. TJ likes the idea that it is short-term, hands-on, and still close to home since he is not ready, yet, to just rush off totally on his own.
Bethany is planning on home-cyberschool for this next year. Her struggle with her asthma last year caused her problems with keeping up with some of her classes and she just wants to not have to worry so much about it so that she can keep up in classes and keep up a good GPA. We are going to work on getting her 'well'. She has lots of friends and things they all do to hang out so she will not be cut off. After a year of cyberschool she wants to be able to spend her last 2 years of HS at the CTC (Career Tech Center) working in the broadcasting field. I tried to talk her into the medical field but she turns her nose up. We will see.
I am the only one that seems to be somewhat uncertain of my future. I guess if nothing materializes before Fall I will sign up for substitute teaching and start working on a Masters Degree in Tech Education or Distance Learning. That way I can work my way into Post-Secondary instruction. It is funny the twists and turns life takes.
Anyway...I am caught up now. LOL
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Five Months Later...
I guess I kind of lost interest in blogging for a while. I got caught up in Facebook. It is a nice place to do 'quick' little posts and find people you forgot to remember...LOL.
Since my last post, so much has happened...and so little.
Pete the Hamster died unexpectedly. Heart failure, from what we can tell. He was lovingly buried under the plants along the side of the house...under my husband's office. (Wonder if he can tell?)
A few months later we added a new 'member' to the family (and a playmate for Max)...Lucy. She and Max are the same mixed breed: part Boxer part Australian Cattle Dog (otherwise known as a Blue Heeler). Lucy looks a little more Boxer in nature than Max but she is beginning to get spots on the white parts of her coat...just like Max. She is still in the housebreaking portion of her training...she is doing better. She isn't quite 4 months old yet. She and Max play together pretty well for the most part. Lucy likes to pounce on Max and is a little instigator and teaser. I think he puts up with it very well most of the time. As she gets bigger, though, I am sure Max will not be quite so hesitant in putting her in her place.
TJ has gone on a Sr. Class trip to Florida. It was a quick 4 day trip. Only 26 classmates went. He said all but 3 of the 'kids' got along great and he made a few new friends. The 3 that didn't get along with everyone else stuck together and did their own thing. They seemed to like to call everyone else names but no one paid any attention to them. It was a whirlwind of activity in a few days and he is still recovering...2 days later.
Bethany has been struggling with new complications from her allergies...migraines. But we will figure it out and it is just one more obstacle for her to overcome.
Troy has done a lot of traveling in these last few months. I am not foreseeing that slowing down any.
I am still on the hunt for a job. I have been discouraged and frustrated. Friends and former co-workers have encouraged me to believe in myself and my abilities more. In doing that, I have spent more time on the internet looking for more avenues of possible employment of which I had not previously thought. I spent a lot of time thinking about my strengths and at what I am best. Stay tuned...we'll see if anything pans out from my new job concentration.
Since my last post, so much has happened...and so little.
Pete the Hamster died unexpectedly. Heart failure, from what we can tell. He was lovingly buried under the plants along the side of the house...under my husband's office. (Wonder if he can tell?)
A few months later we added a new 'member' to the family (and a playmate for Max)...Lucy. She and Max are the same mixed breed: part Boxer part Australian Cattle Dog (otherwise known as a Blue Heeler). Lucy looks a little more Boxer in nature than Max but she is beginning to get spots on the white parts of her coat...just like Max. She is still in the housebreaking portion of her training...she is doing better. She isn't quite 4 months old yet. She and Max play together pretty well for the most part. Lucy likes to pounce on Max and is a little instigator and teaser. I think he puts up with it very well most of the time. As she gets bigger, though, I am sure Max will not be quite so hesitant in putting her in her place.
TJ has gone on a Sr. Class trip to Florida. It was a quick 4 day trip. Only 26 classmates went. He said all but 3 of the 'kids' got along great and he made a few new friends. The 3 that didn't get along with everyone else stuck together and did their own thing. They seemed to like to call everyone else names but no one paid any attention to them. It was a whirlwind of activity in a few days and he is still recovering...2 days later.
Bethany has been struggling with new complications from her allergies...migraines. But we will figure it out and it is just one more obstacle for her to overcome.
Troy has done a lot of traveling in these last few months. I am not foreseeing that slowing down any.
I am still on the hunt for a job. I have been discouraged and frustrated. Friends and former co-workers have encouraged me to believe in myself and my abilities more. In doing that, I have spent more time on the internet looking for more avenues of possible employment of which I had not previously thought. I spent a lot of time thinking about my strengths and at what I am best. Stay tuned...we'll see if anything pans out from my new job concentration.