Waiting

I have plastered this section of the state with applications and resumes. I got my first "official" rejection letter today. Sadly, most businesses do not have the common courtesy to let applicants know they have not been selected. Most of them state they save money by not sending out rejection letters. I know when I was a manager, I told each and every candidate I interviewed that I would call them, regardless if I hired them or not. I figure it is the very least an employer can do. I have been on the other end, and I know what waiting can be like.

I am still going to substitute teach as soon as the background check comes back and I get the go-ahead to start accepting substitute slots. NOT looking forward to driving to the very rural school districts in Michigan winter. UGH!

The only thing with substitute teaching is it is not a sure gig. Some weeks, I may work 5 days, some, I may not work any. The network is built so that those who have established themselves as trustworthy subs get called first. Since I am a newbie, I am quite a way down the calling list. Still, it is something. It is income, and it is doing something worthwhile. MIL says there is no way she would ever step foot in a classroom; I, however, have always loved education. I love seeing the spark when a child grasps a concept and the confidence it builds.

Even when I was a high school student, I volunteered a free period to be a student cadet teacher, as they were called. I got to go down to the elementary and middle school (schools were all on the same campus) and help a teacher for an hour. Many times, it was to the elementary school to help kids struggling with reading; sometimes, it was helping middle school students struggling with math.

As an adult, I volunteered in my son's elementary and middle school. For those who don't know what a middle school is, it is essentially upper elementary combined with junior high--usually 5th through 8th grades. My son has socialization and behavioural issues due to mental illnesses. Being in his classroom often helped keep him focused and stabilized. Part of the problem, we learned, was my son is very intelligent and was not being challenged. He instead used his energy to act out. I think dealing with the challenged of raising my son helped prepare me for the challenges that lay ahead in the classroom.

I just know that I am getting ants in the pants because of our finances. I need to be generating income ASAP. I can see how stressed out my hubby is due to money. That and dealing with winter (4-7 inches due tonight) is depressing both of us.

I am still putting out applications on a daily basis. Someone will hire me at some point. It is the waiting that is killing me...

I'm a Sucker for a Sunset

This was taken with a not-so-fancy digital camera.  The sky went from purple to orange so fast! I forgot to take the flash off for the second picture, so it is weird looking, but you can still see that band of orange on the horizon. I had to change batteries in my camera, so I was lucky I caught any of the sunset, it happened so fast.

24 hours later, it was snowing and blowing so hard, you couldn't see across the road....I'm counting the days until Spring.

I am currently playing scrabble with 24 other people on Facebook. Obsessed, much? I was so wired last night, I just kept clicking "find a game to join". Finally made myself go to bed at 3am. Ugh! Can't keep doing that!

My book is now just under 145 typed pages (letter-sized). I need to get ink and get it printed so I can do some editing. Feeling hopeful about having it done sooner rather than later.

I am going to hit the sack at a decent hour, as I am sure we will need to shovel and clean the car for MIL in the a.m. if this keeps up. They are predicting about 12 inches. Yay.  NOT!

Whew! Glad that is over with!

School and Christmas are now behind us, as well as a visit from MIL's great-grandchildren, ages 4, 2 and 1. I used to have the patience of Job, but not anymore.  I guess I would make a terrible grandma, as I was exhausted after only an hour with them. The volume got me, for one. When did kids get so loud? I so wanted to sneak into the bedroom with Bud and our dogs to avoid the cacophony.

And of course, they wanted to touch everything, and there is nothing kid-friendly about MIL's house. They managed to get through the visit without getting bit by a dog or breaking something.

We once again played Wii on Christmas day. I would have had more fun if it weren't for my back.  It has been giving me fits for about three weeks. My weight isn't helping matters much. I need to kick it into high gear and GET THIS WEIGHT OFF!!!! I have zero will power during the holidays. This Christmas there were no green vegetables in sight, I swear. Just lots of carbs and starches.

I put in several job applications. We are in need of some cash flow, and I know that since I am now a graduate, MIL will be asking me when I am getting a job. I want to beat her to the punch!

I really want to hibernate, and it really isn't that bad out.  No snow, so that is a huge plus. Maybe we can get through this winter with minimal snow.  If we have blue skies, that is always a bonus. The overcast days really depress the hell out of me. The sunshine really helps.

MIL is slamming shit around right now, so I guess she is pissed about something. Guess I better get off of here!

Good grief...

Good grief indeed! I haven't had time to post--waaaaaaahhhhh! I have two, count 'em, TWO weeks left, then I can breath again. Tonight, I wrote a paper, took two comprehensive tests, and did a statistical analysis. Fun times. Haven't even had time to complain about last week's friggin' sleet/snow storm. Geez!

The S Word 2011

And so it starts...I wish I could hibernate through winter and wake up in the Spring! I know I am not posting much, but I am neck deep into week three of the semester--my LAST semester!

Not looking forward to driving MIL into town for dialysis in this Sh...I mean stuff. Guess she would rather not go to dialysis, so I won't complain too much...

Bud is out with the snow shovel we bought yesterday, getting the sidewalks cleared and cleaning the car off. Is it April, yet??????

Please Let this be the last...

These are pictures from just three days ago. The last of it just melted. Hell, we came to Alabama to get AWAY from this shit! Instead, Alabama is getting more snow than they have in ages. We lived here for 10 years, and we didn't have any snow that actually lasted more than a day during that entire time period, and it was never more than an inch deep; this year, we have had three snows that have stuck around for two days or more. UGH!


We had just returned from taking Ms. Carol to her umpteenth appointment in T-town Wednesday when the skies opened and it began to snow like there was no tomorrow.
Well, there was a tomorrow, and this is what it looked like on Thursday morning:



Sorry for not rotating the last image, but I wanted to include it to show that there was over 4 inches of snow on the ground. Geez!

Carol and I went and got our hair cut in Columbus on Thursday afternoon. She treated as a thank you for all our help. I had the stylist lop off about 4 inches. Sure felt good to have those old dead ends off! My hair is now shoulder length again. I colored it today, so it is like a whole new head of hair!

The boys went off today. I have a ton of reading to do, and Ms. Carol didn't want to go if I wasn't going. I hope they are having fun. I know Mr. Mike can kind of be a demanding pain in the butt, but I think it is good for both of them to have some time away from their "old ladies".

Felt like taking a much needed break before my brain explodes from my statistics chapter on finding margin of error in a sample population. Do I know what that even means?

I made a yummy supper of purple hulls, cornbread, and turnip greens. Mmmmmmmmm. Also made two round white cakes: one plain for Bud, and the other I am going to fancy up with cherry pie filling and whipped cream.

Looking forward to the 70 degrees that is predicted for Thursday. Now THAT is what I am talking about!

Ala-frickin-bama

We made it in one piece, been here a whopping three days, and now it is going to do that 4-letter "s" word. That is why we came back South--to get away from that shit!

We are staying with friends right now, and are darned thankful for it. Carol just had by-pass surgery, and her significant other (common law hubby) is in the hospital recovering from a stroke, among other things. They are obviously worse off than we are, so we are helping them out as much as they are helping us by out by providing a roof over our heads.

Bud is about over the edge because the tv stays on 24-seven, and it is BORING as all get out. He is antsy for me to get a j-o-b so we can get our own place. Speaking of our own place, we no sooner get back in Pickens County and the folks that bought our old house are calling saying that we are back with ulterior motives. PAY THE DAMN MORTGAGE AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY! Neither one of us want the house back after they have lived their. I cringe when I think of how bad it might be (might? HAHAHAHAHA)

We did talk to a gentleman who has about 7 houses he rents out, but all are occupied at the moment. He said he has a trailer that may come available soon, and he would let us know...hopefully sooner than later!

My back has been giving me fits and starts. Hurts like a son of a b*tch. I spend half of my day on the heating pad, and I am keeping Goody's Powders in business at this point. Not sure what this is, since it is my whole back. Sometimes, it is even my ribcage and neck. I would say pleurisy, but I was JUST at the ER, and had x-rays. Surely they would have seen it if it was pleurisy...ugh. I just know I am tired of hurting and tired of complaining about hurting.

I am going to get my resume out there and keep my fingers crossed. Say a little prayer!

I am hoping we don't get the predicted weather: 2-6 inches of snow, and 1/2 inch of freezing rain on top of it. YEEEEEEEE HAWWWWWWW!!

Something has got to give...