I have officially joined the ranks of plasma donors. Zoe turned six months on Saturday so now I am legal.
I am very thankful for this unexpected source of income. Cam is still looking for a job and I can't find anything I can do around his schedule... plus my Utah teaching license expired last May and I am not qualified to renew it (Utah does a three-year cumulative point system). It is definitely a blessing we are both healthy enough to be regular donors.
All my trepidation - the small amount there was - was unneeded. Giving plasma wasn't any different from giving blood, except I don't feel as whoozie afterwards. I count that as a plus.
Showing posts with label Jobs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jobs. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Apartment * The Job * The Kids * The Hubby
The Apartment: is great. The best self-funded place we have ever lived in since tying the knot. It isn't perfect, but I am ridiculously happy with it, especially after hearing about a teenage "shooter" a block away from a townhouse we had been looking at and wanting(and almost got except the leasing guy went out of town and we couldn't get a hold of him and didn't want to wait). The area down here in South Ogden is much safer, prettier, and out-of-the-way without being way out. Dallas and Chelane are sharing a room (and a bed... it is a full), the Ward has many old people and young couples (I really love having "old people" wards, they have so much more experience and a much better perspective on life), and there are many kids in the apartment complex. I am sure pictures will come shortly.
The Job: is great. I really enjoy teaching but I get WAY stressed out over all the things I need to do. It isn't helping that about a quarter of my Algebra students do not have books (we discovered this a few days before the school year started, the wrong books had been ordered over the summer; we fixed it but the correct books are on back-order) so I am making worksheets for everything lately. Also, it is Parent-Teacher Conference this week so grades need to be in and I get to stay at the school until 8pm on Thursday (yay, me!).
I am still not very organized either. I feel like I am mostly treading water and only making little progress at a time, but it still is progress. I have to keep myself from thinking too long term (of all the things I need to do) or I REALLY freak out. Poor Cam has to deal with it all; I think my moods may have been worse than when I was pregnant. Dallas tells me to "calm down" and asks me if I am OK quite a bit. I have been having a little depression, but I think it is just tied to the new-working-Mom thing. I believe this would be all easier it I knew the kids weren't at home waiting for me to come home. Also, since I do teach math, there are always students who want to stay after because they do not understand something (especially if they missed class), which isn't conducive to the getting-things-done-quickly-at-school-in-order-to-get-home-early desires I have.
However, I did find that the school has a grant for teachers with Math and/or Science licenses: $30/hr for after contracted time spent with tutor students. I already have over seven hours since the beginning of the school-year. It is like having another part-time job.
I do love teaching and I do love math.
The Kids: are great!
Dallas: Dallas' speech is getting better. He talked to his "Nana" on the phone a few weeks ago and she could understand what he was saying without a translator. He is getting better at correcting himself and mimicking correct speech. He is also a puzzle whiz. He doesn't sit still for many things but puzzles, movies, and learning new things he does. The kid is a sponge!
He likes to help in the kitchen: measuring, baking, cleaning. His favorite is to crack eggs and he does so masterfully. You will see a video soon.
We also have a pretty awesome Children's Museum here (I bought a family membership the first week we were here) and we frequent it often (every Friday at least). Aside from there very cool exhibits that keep Dallas and Chelane busy, they have a "step on stage" program and hold a "partici-play" a few times everyday. At these "partici-plays" the kids get to act out parts while a museum employee narrates a story. Dallas loves them; Chelane has a hard time sitting through them. We have some pictures of these as well.
Chelane has started saying three word phrases like: "sit on you" and "stop it, Dallas" all very clearly. She is among the youngest in nursery at church (nursery ages are 15-36+ months and she is only 23 months) but she is almost the tallest (the only child that beats her is over 3 years old). She asked to use the potty the other night and actually went... we are thinking maybe trying to potty train her during my break in October. We haven't decided yet. She is more attached to her binky than ever. She has taken to hiding under the kitchen sink and running away from you when you call. What can I say? She is two.
The Hubby: Cam didn't start school this semester. We didn't realize that tuition was due so soon (which I should have remembered from going to college) and we didn't have all the necessary things to apply for residency yet. While we probably would have been refunded the extra tuition cost, we didn't have the money to front it all right then and were still trying to adjust. So Cam decided to take the time off. He was initially looking for a job, perhaps back at his old work, but we decided against it. The hours wouldn't work well for school and it is a solid 40 minutes away (in good traffic).
He is still looking into other part-time-in-the-evening possibilities, but he is being the stay-at-home daddy for now. During the first week he commented, "Chasing after the kids all day is tiring." Really? I mentioned that if you try to get a schedule going it works better than just trying to keep them out of mischief all day. They are usually car-less during the day so that makes doing things outside the home tough. Right now he and Dallas are doing a 100 piece astronaut puzzle.
An older gentleman sat next to me and the kids in the pew at church(Cam went home a little early with backpain). Chelane sat on his lap from time to time. He said it took him back to 50 years ago when his kids were that little. I know I will cherish these days. Working makes me miss being home. I would change places with Cam in a heartbeat.
The Job: is great. I really enjoy teaching but I get WAY stressed out over all the things I need to do. It isn't helping that about a quarter of my Algebra students do not have books (we discovered this a few days before the school year started, the wrong books had been ordered over the summer; we fixed it but the correct books are on back-order) so I am making worksheets for everything lately. Also, it is Parent-Teacher Conference this week so grades need to be in and I get to stay at the school until 8pm on Thursday (yay, me!).
I am still not very organized either. I feel like I am mostly treading water and only making little progress at a time, but it still is progress. I have to keep myself from thinking too long term (of all the things I need to do) or I REALLY freak out. Poor Cam has to deal with it all; I think my moods may have been worse than when I was pregnant. Dallas tells me to "calm down" and asks me if I am OK quite a bit. I have been having a little depression, but I think it is just tied to the new-working-Mom thing. I believe this would be all easier it I knew the kids weren't at home waiting for me to come home. Also, since I do teach math, there are always students who want to stay after because they do not understand something (especially if they missed class), which isn't conducive to the getting-things-done-quickly-at-school-in-order-to-get-home-early desires I have.
However, I did find that the school has a grant for teachers with Math and/or Science licenses: $30/hr for after contracted time spent with tutor students. I already have over seven hours since the beginning of the school-year. It is like having another part-time job.
I do love teaching and I do love math.
The Kids: are great!
Dallas: Dallas' speech is getting better. He talked to his "Nana" on the phone a few weeks ago and she could understand what he was saying without a translator. He is getting better at correcting himself and mimicking correct speech. He is also a puzzle whiz. He doesn't sit still for many things but puzzles, movies, and learning new things he does. The kid is a sponge!
He likes to help in the kitchen: measuring, baking, cleaning. His favorite is to crack eggs and he does so masterfully. You will see a video soon.
We also have a pretty awesome Children's Museum here (I bought a family membership the first week we were here) and we frequent it often (every Friday at least). Aside from there very cool exhibits that keep Dallas and Chelane busy, they have a "step on stage" program and hold a "partici-play" a few times everyday. At these "partici-plays" the kids get to act out parts while a museum employee narrates a story. Dallas loves them; Chelane has a hard time sitting through them. We have some pictures of these as well.
Chelane has started saying three word phrases like: "sit on you" and "stop it, Dallas" all very clearly. She is among the youngest in nursery at church (nursery ages are 15-36+ months and she is only 23 months) but she is almost the tallest (the only child that beats her is over 3 years old). She asked to use the potty the other night and actually went... we are thinking maybe trying to potty train her during my break in October. We haven't decided yet. She is more attached to her binky than ever. She has taken to hiding under the kitchen sink and running away from you when you call. What can I say? She is two.
The Hubby: Cam didn't start school this semester. We didn't realize that tuition was due so soon (which I should have remembered from going to college) and we didn't have all the necessary things to apply for residency yet. While we probably would have been refunded the extra tuition cost, we didn't have the money to front it all right then and were still trying to adjust. So Cam decided to take the time off. He was initially looking for a job, perhaps back at his old work, but we decided against it. The hours wouldn't work well for school and it is a solid 40 minutes away (in good traffic).
He is still looking into other part-time-in-the-evening possibilities, but he is being the stay-at-home daddy for now. During the first week he commented, "Chasing after the kids all day is tiring." Really? I mentioned that if you try to get a schedule going it works better than just trying to keep them out of mischief all day. They are usually car-less during the day so that makes doing things outside the home tough. Right now he and Dallas are doing a 100 piece astronaut puzzle.
An older gentleman sat next to me and the kids in the pew at church(Cam went home a little early with backpain). Chelane sat on his lap from time to time. He said it took him back to 50 years ago when his kids were that little. I know I will cherish these days. Working makes me miss being home. I would change places with Cam in a heartbeat.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Trepidation
I am getting a little antsy about the move and the up-coming teaching job. A few justification for this feeling:
We still have no housing nailed down. We did submit an application today (we got to fax 18 pages to Utah, so fun), so barring something the apartment complex doesn't like (such as the lack of money in the bank or the our inconsistent employment for the last 18 months), early next week, we will have an apartment reserved for us .
We haven't finished packing yet. I feel what is left can't be packed until the last minute, it being clothes, some toys, and toiletries. And I am sure that will come back to bite me.
On the job front, I still have no idea what subject I will be teaching. Well, duh, it will be math, but there are many subcategories there, and Algebra is very different from basic math or geometry or... you get the picture.
I will not be able to be at the school (to prep my room, meet any teachers, etc.) until the start of the teacher preparation week. And I just got the schedule for previously mentioned week, and it is a doozy. On top of all that, it appears I will be working a few evenings that week; student orientation and all that.
Don't let me fool you, I am still very tickled that: I HAVE a job (doing something I love to boot), we will have money, Cam will be able to go to school, and we don't have to put the kids in child-care to do any of it.
I need to find a way to keep this positive attitude going because I KNOW sooner or later (and my bet is "sooner") the stress will get the best of me...
Oh, the apartment is not 3 blocks from a Costa Vida... can I tell you how happy this makes me? Too late, I already told you :)
We still have no housing nailed down. We did submit an application today (we got to fax 18 pages to Utah, so fun), so barring something the apartment complex doesn't like (such as the lack of money in the bank or the our inconsistent employment for the last 18 months), early next week, we will have an apartment reserved for us .
We haven't finished packing yet. I feel what is left can't be packed until the last minute, it being clothes, some toys, and toiletries. And I am sure that will come back to bite me.
On the job front, I still have no idea what subject I will be teaching. Well, duh, it will be math, but there are many subcategories there, and Algebra is very different from basic math or geometry or... you get the picture.
I will not be able to be at the school (to prep my room, meet any teachers, etc.) until the start of the teacher preparation week. And I just got the schedule for previously mentioned week, and it is a doozy. On top of all that, it appears I will be working a few evenings that week; student orientation and all that.
Don't let me fool you, I am still very tickled that: I HAVE a job (doing something I love to boot), we will have money, Cam will be able to go to school, and we don't have to put the kids in child-care to do any of it.
I need to find a way to keep this positive attitude going because I KNOW sooner or later (and my bet is "sooner") the stress will get the best of me...
Oh, the apartment is not 3 blocks from a Costa Vida... can I tell you how happy this makes me? Too late, I already told you :)
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Interview
I know this is in reverse order (telling you that I got the job and THEN talking about the interview) but the interview(s) were just too fun not to share. So here it goes.
The school contacted via email and asked to set up a time to do a phone interview. That morning I got the kiddos fed and all situation with a movie to await the call. When it came I went to a back bedroom, to reduce extra noise but so I could still hear the kids. Well the interview was going (apparently) well when Dallas decided to pick that 30 minute period I was going to have a phone interview to have a bowel movement.
I hear a, "Mom! I went poop in the potty!" Followed by a, "Mom, wash my bum!" The yells got more and more desperate as I left him on the toilet, culminating in a shrill, "MOM!". Finally, craddling phone against my shoulder, I figure I can get Dallas taken care of without stopping the phone conversation.
I am sure most of you moms out there are betting against me already. And you would be right, it didn't work.
Nothing crazy happened, like dropping the phone in the toilet, but, much to me chagrin, I had to excuse myself. The ladies on the other end were very understanding of my leave. After I returned, they finished their questions and ended with a promise to give me another call at the end of the week.
A few days later, I decide to take a shower after breakfast while the kids are watching TV. As the water starts, I think, through the sound of the running water, I hear the cell phone ringing.
Now, I have thought I heard TONS of things through the shower. It started when Dallas was a newborn baby and I was so nervous about leaving him sleeping in his crib while I showered that I would stop the water 2 or 3 times when I "heard" him crying. Now-a-days, when I "hear" something while I am showering, I write it off as the running water playing tricks with my mind.
Only this time it wasn't.
After I stopped the water, Dallas walks to the bathroom door and informs me that Grandma had called as he hands me the cell phone. I pulled up incoming calls and, sure enough,the number of the school called 5 minutes ago.
I was a little mortified.
I immediately called them back, wondering what Dallas had done/said and how it had been taken on the other end... The school secretary puts me on hold for the director (read: principal), who answers my call with a, "How old is your son?" Yes, the two ladies, the school director and the math department head, who had conference called for my interview, had called back (on conference) only to be answered by my 3 year-old son, who talked to them for a short while before hanging up. They were both laughing fairly hard as I tripped over myself apologizing.
They had called back to offer me the job and, after all that, amazingly enough, they went through with it. I think this school may be a good fit for me.
On a side note I have been so used to, "You were one of the best interviews and we would love to have you at our school but, we went with someone with more experience..." that I was quite speechless when they offered me the job. When I could finally make words come (I had a few "gracious looser" responses prepared but no acceptance speech) I accepted the job on the spot, to which the ladies replied (laughing) "Wouldn't you like to talk it over with your husband?" Oh, yeah the husband, oops...
On a more sider note, in the last month Chelane has learned:
1. milk + straw = geyser of bubbles
2. inhaling air + drinking = burp on will (no joke)
While Dallas has started letting himself out of the house for walks (complete with shoes and snacks).
/sigh
The school contacted via email and asked to set up a time to do a phone interview. That morning I got the kiddos fed and all situation with a movie to await the call. When it came I went to a back bedroom, to reduce extra noise but so I could still hear the kids. Well the interview was going (apparently) well when Dallas decided to pick that 30 minute period I was going to have a phone interview to have a bowel movement.
I hear a, "Mom! I went poop in the potty!" Followed by a, "Mom, wash my bum!" The yells got more and more desperate as I left him on the toilet, culminating in a shrill, "MOM!". Finally, craddling phone against my shoulder, I figure I can get Dallas taken care of without stopping the phone conversation.
I am sure most of you moms out there are betting against me already. And you would be right, it didn't work.
Nothing crazy happened, like dropping the phone in the toilet, but, much to me chagrin, I had to excuse myself. The ladies on the other end were very understanding of my leave. After I returned, they finished their questions and ended with a promise to give me another call at the end of the week.
A few days later, I decide to take a shower after breakfast while the kids are watching TV. As the water starts, I think, through the sound of the running water, I hear the cell phone ringing.
Now, I have thought I heard TONS of things through the shower. It started when Dallas was a newborn baby and I was so nervous about leaving him sleeping in his crib while I showered that I would stop the water 2 or 3 times when I "heard" him crying. Now-a-days, when I "hear" something while I am showering, I write it off as the running water playing tricks with my mind.
Only this time it wasn't.
After I stopped the water, Dallas walks to the bathroom door and informs me that Grandma had called as he hands me the cell phone. I pulled up incoming calls and, sure enough,the number of the school called 5 minutes ago.
I was a little mortified.
I immediately called them back, wondering what Dallas had done/said and how it had been taken on the other end... The school secretary puts me on hold for the director (read: principal), who answers my call with a, "How old is your son?" Yes, the two ladies, the school director and the math department head, who had conference called for my interview, had called back (on conference) only to be answered by my 3 year-old son, who talked to them for a short while before hanging up. They were both laughing fairly hard as I tripped over myself apologizing.
They had called back to offer me the job and, after all that, amazingly enough, they went through with it. I think this school may be a good fit for me.
On a side note I have been so used to, "You were one of the best interviews and we would love to have you at our school but, we went with someone with more experience..." that I was quite speechless when they offered me the job. When I could finally make words come (I had a few "gracious looser" responses prepared but no acceptance speech) I accepted the job on the spot, to which the ladies replied (laughing) "Wouldn't you like to talk it over with your husband?" Oh, yeah the husband, oops...
On a more sider note, in the last month Chelane has learned:
1. milk + straw = geyser of bubbles
2. inhaling air + drinking = burp on will (no joke)
While Dallas has started letting himself out of the house for walks (complete with shoes and snacks).
/sigh
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Moving to Utah
Well I got a job offer and just signed the paperwork to accept it today. The job is at a middle charter school in Ogden, Utah just a couple miles from Weber State University, the school Cam will be attending in the fall.
I am very excited about the job (and it is very needed to keep my teaching license valid as it would expire next June). It also gives Cam residency and therefore in-state tuition (yipee!). However, this school starts earlier than most (teacher prep days start August 9th, the actual school year August 16th) and Cam doesn't finish his classes next semester until August 12th... We will have to figure something out with that, but we have a few months to get it nailed down.
So we will be moving to Ogden, Utah in August for a few years. Feels like everything is working out for us!
I am very excited about the job (and it is very needed to keep my teaching license valid as it would expire next June). It also gives Cam residency and therefore in-state tuition (yipee!). However, this school starts earlier than most (teacher prep days start August 9th, the actual school year August 16th) and Cam doesn't finish his classes next semester until August 12th... We will have to figure something out with that, but we have a few months to get it nailed down.
So we will be moving to Ogden, Utah in August for a few years. Feels like everything is working out for us!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
PT: Day 20
Almost three week from the time we started getting Dallas to the potty and now he seems to have it down. For the first week he wouldn't go poo in the toilet and THAT was annoying. But on day 10 he did it and it seemed to "click" that he didn't need to be afraid/worried/anxious (or whatever the problem was) anymore. I think I can say he is potty trained. He also filled up his "potty chart" and now we have to go to the Bouncy Place sometime soon. We are very proud of him. He even uses public toilets. What a guy!
I am still frantically applying for jobs in Utah, however the frequency of job postings are lower now. I have one school that wants to interview so Cam, me, and the kiddos are taking a mini-vacation to Utah in June (between Cam's quarters) to do the interview and have a little relaxing time before finishing school and moving. Hopefully another school (or two) will want to interview me and someone will hire me.
Cam will graduate with his Associates in Arts degree in August right before we move and he starts school again at Weber State University. He has already registered for his classes and we have put a deposit on housing. We are keeping a little busy (as you can tell :)
As for Chelane, she sits around and looks cute.
I am still frantically applying for jobs in Utah, however the frequency of job postings are lower now. I have one school that wants to interview so Cam, me, and the kiddos are taking a mini-vacation to Utah in June (between Cam's quarters) to do the interview and have a little relaxing time before finishing school and moving. Hopefully another school (or two) will want to interview me and someone will hire me.
Cam will graduate with his Associates in Arts degree in August right before we move and he starts school again at Weber State University. He has already registered for his classes and we have put a deposit on housing. We are keeping a little busy (as you can tell :)
As for Chelane, she sits around and looks cute.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
It Is All Worth It
Have you ever heard something like, "Yeah so-and-so wanted to major in such-and-such, but I talked them out of it. It just doesn't make enough money."? Too many people shy away from what they are passionate in, in search of a more lucrative career.
And some people do just the opposite. I had been majoring in electrical engineering when I first started at BYU. After a year I changed to math education. I really like teaching and tutoring; and I loved math. Now-a-days I sometimes wonder why I did that. Ok, so the circuits class gave my panic attacks whenever I thought about re-taking it, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have gotten over it. And now instead of making money I am in a field that (in this area) recently rifted a chunk of their new employees due to budget cuts. Now I am tutoring on a fairly small hourly wage.
Often I don't have time to bemoan my fate, I am just having too much fun. I love going to a job where I often look at the clock and say, "Wow, I can't have been here for 3 hours already!" Or have the occasional student prefer to sit with me or even volunteer, "You are my favorite tutor." You never know how to take that from a student in elementary or secondary school. After comments like that, I have to re-evaluate myself: are they working harder with me than with any other tutor? am I challenging them enough? or do they like me because I am a push-over with them?
With adult students, it is different. I was tutoring someone back in December who was starting the 2nd part of calculus in January. He had taken the first part of calculus over four years ago and needed a crash-course refresher. After working with him the first day I was overwhelmed at all the calculus I didn't remember. I pulled out my old calculus book, and searched the internet re-learning many concepts so I could explain them to him. He was sharp and a hard worker. Unlike some high school students who bring the work to you without trying it on their own and expect you to give them all the answers; he had tried and brought very specific questions.
I only tutored him for a month, but I thought about him as his quarter progressed, hoping he was doing ok. The quarter ended last week and yesterday he came back to thank me for all I had done. He insisted he learned more from me in those few weeks than from his professor during the quarter. He appreciated my passion for math and teaching and that I was the reason he passed the course. I wished he could write me a letter of recommendation!
I guess teachers teach for moments like that. I may not be making lots of money, but I feel like I am making a difference.
And some people do just the opposite. I had been majoring in electrical engineering when I first started at BYU. After a year I changed to math education. I really like teaching and tutoring; and I loved math. Now-a-days I sometimes wonder why I did that. Ok, so the circuits class gave my panic attacks whenever I thought about re-taking it, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have gotten over it. And now instead of making money I am in a field that (in this area) recently rifted a chunk of their new employees due to budget cuts. Now I am tutoring on a fairly small hourly wage.
Often I don't have time to bemoan my fate, I am just having too much fun. I love going to a job where I often look at the clock and say, "Wow, I can't have been here for 3 hours already!" Or have the occasional student prefer to sit with me or even volunteer, "You are my favorite tutor." You never know how to take that from a student in elementary or secondary school. After comments like that, I have to re-evaluate myself: are they working harder with me than with any other tutor? am I challenging them enough? or do they like me because I am a push-over with them?
With adult students, it is different. I was tutoring someone back in December who was starting the 2nd part of calculus in January. He had taken the first part of calculus over four years ago and needed a crash-course refresher. After working with him the first day I was overwhelmed at all the calculus I didn't remember. I pulled out my old calculus book, and searched the internet re-learning many concepts so I could explain them to him. He was sharp and a hard worker. Unlike some high school students who bring the work to you without trying it on their own and expect you to give them all the answers; he had tried and brought very specific questions.
I only tutored him for a month, but I thought about him as his quarter progressed, hoping he was doing ok. The quarter ended last week and yesterday he came back to thank me for all I had done. He insisted he learned more from me in those few weeks than from his professor during the quarter. He appreciated my passion for math and teaching and that I was the reason he passed the course. I wished he could write me a letter of recommendation!
I guess teachers teach for moments like that. I may not be making lots of money, but I feel like I am making a difference.
Friday, March 19, 2010
In the Last Week
Subbing for 4 days this week, totaling 20 hours, I have worked for about a quarter of the hours I pull per month tutoring/managing at Mathnasium.
The clincher? I have made almost half of my regular Mathnasium paycheck.
I wish we could work out a schedule so I could substitute more often and not just when Cam is on break (which won't happen again until the end of the school year).
But don't get me wrong I am thankful for having the job at Mathnasium (the stability and the experience it gives)... I am just very thankful for when I can substitute too.
The clincher? I have made almost half of my regular Mathnasium paycheck.
I wish we could work out a schedule so I could substitute more often and not just when Cam is on break (which won't happen again until the end of the school year).
But don't get me wrong I am thankful for having the job at Mathnasium (the stability and the experience it gives)... I am just very thankful for when I can substitute too.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Subbing
I have been noticing a trend with me and new jobs: I don't sleep well the night before. I have a hard time falling asleep, I just can't relax for whatever reason, and I usually wake up early the morning after. I figure I must suffer from anxiety, but only new jobs. I slept just fine the night before my wedding...
Five years ago I substituted in a high school for three weeks for a friend on maternity leave, right at the end of the school year. Yesterday I substituted for the first time since then, for a half day in a middle school.
The ladies in the front office were very helpful and encouraging (I told them it was my first time subbing in the Kent School District so I didn't know what to do, etc.) and the classes were not bad either.
Unfortunately (for me) the teacher made the day a work-on-one-assignment-until-you-are-done day so that meant I spent five minutes explaining the assignment (this was an English class, so the assignment was a writing prompt) and spent the rest of the 55 minute period telling them they were getting too loud or splitting people up. Not much teaching just a lot of classroom management.
Some fun notes: I had three students ask me if I was a model... I know it doesn't mean anything, but it sure makes for a good day!
Tuesday I am substituting for another half-day in a high school math class. I am trying to rake up the days since Cam doesn't have classes for the next two weeks so he is home to watch the kids.
Five years ago I substituted in a high school for three weeks for a friend on maternity leave, right at the end of the school year. Yesterday I substituted for the first time since then, for a half day in a middle school.
The ladies in the front office were very helpful and encouraging (I told them it was my first time subbing in the Kent School District so I didn't know what to do, etc.) and the classes were not bad either.
Unfortunately (for me) the teacher made the day a work-on-one-assignment-until-you-are-done day so that meant I spent five minutes explaining the assignment (this was an English class, so the assignment was a writing prompt) and spent the rest of the 55 minute period telling them they were getting too loud or splitting people up. Not much teaching just a lot of classroom management.
Some fun notes: I had three students ask me if I was a model... I know it doesn't mean anything, but it sure makes for a good day!
Tuesday I am substituting for another half-day in a high school math class. I am trying to rake up the days since Cam doesn't have classes for the next two weeks so he is home to watch the kids.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
That Test
I figured I would put a little update in about that test I took a month ago that I was complaining about over two months ago.
Apparently there was a need to complain and not a need to worry.
I passed.
The scoring was 100-300 with anything over 240 passing. The test was broken up into three sub-tests: reading, writing, and mathematics. I passed all of them by a wide margin, acing the math portion.
After I got my scores in the mail I just had to show it to Cam. Then, like a little kid, I had to go tell my mom and dad how well I did. I guess you are never too old for some parental praise.
Apparently there was a need to complain and not a need to worry.
I passed.
The scoring was 100-300 with anything over 240 passing. The test was broken up into three sub-tests: reading, writing, and mathematics. I passed all of them by a wide margin, acing the math portion.
After I got my scores in the mail I just had to show it to Cam. Then, like a little kid, I had to go tell my mom and dad how well I did. I guess you are never too old for some parental praise.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
New Things in the Last Week or So...
I was talking to my sister in-law and part of the conversation went something like this:
Me: "Well I will still be working those three days before Christmas so it would be nice to be close to home."
Sister in-law: "Wait, you have a job?"
Me: "Yeah I got it pretty suddenly about a week ago..."
At that moment it dawned on me that no one (expect the people I live with and the recipient of that phone conversation) know my happy news about no longer being unemployed. The job is at Mathnasium (you can google it if you are curious) which is a math-only tutoring place. I went in for an interview that turned into a math competency test, an interview, and some tutoring practice (the half hour I was planning on turned into nearly two). I got a call a little over a week later asking if I could start that day. That was last Tuesday.
The job is fun but the pay isn't stellar. However, I get raises as I finish their training program and as they see progress in my abilities. Hopefully that will be a pretty big raise, but if not the people I work with are fun, the job is enjoyable, it will look good on my resume, the hours work well with Cam's class schedule, and it is five minutes from home. And it is some financial stability so I am not stressed which Cam appreciates.
Now the more exciting stuff:
In the last week Chelane passed the line of "preferring to crawl" over into "preferring to walk." She can be seem waddling everywhere she goes now, rarely resorting to crawling.
In the last week or so she has reminded us that she is on her way to being two; vehemently expressing her opinions and complaining when things aren't to her liking; I am already worrying about her as a teenager.
Since Monday she has insisted on drinking liquids from a cup without aid of a sippy-top, straw, or a mommy/daddy helping out. Yep, she takes the cup from you puts it to her own mouth, tilts it by herself, and drinks. She gets quite annoyed with you if you try to help her. Cam and I are a little floored by this since she seems to be on par with Dallas' mastery of this skill.
In the last week she has increased her signs from one (her hand moving to her mouth to mean "drink", "food", and/or "binki") to "food/eat", "drink", "please", and "more". She is putting a "buh" sound with waving bye-bye.
Dallas said, "Mom watch this" to me at lunch and proceeded to do some silly dance while shaking his head. He is talking more and more; attempting more and more words and repeating things he hears you say.
We tried playing a memory-type game with him a few weeks ago. He caught onto the order you turn things over in and how to wait and take turns. Playing games is now when of his favorite things to do.
Me: "Well I will still be working those three days before Christmas so it would be nice to be close to home."
Sister in-law: "Wait, you have a job?"
Me: "Yeah I got it pretty suddenly about a week ago..."
At that moment it dawned on me that no one (expect the people I live with and the recipient of that phone conversation) know my happy news about no longer being unemployed. The job is at Mathnasium (you can google it if you are curious) which is a math-only tutoring place. I went in for an interview that turned into a math competency test, an interview, and some tutoring practice (the half hour I was planning on turned into nearly two). I got a call a little over a week later asking if I could start that day. That was last Tuesday.
The job is fun but the pay isn't stellar. However, I get raises as I finish their training program and as they see progress in my abilities. Hopefully that will be a pretty big raise, but if not the people I work with are fun, the job is enjoyable, it will look good on my resume, the hours work well with Cam's class schedule, and it is five minutes from home. And it is some financial stability so I am not stressed which Cam appreciates.
Now the more exciting stuff:
In the last week Chelane passed the line of "preferring to crawl" over into "preferring to walk." She can be seem waddling everywhere she goes now, rarely resorting to crawling.
In the last week or so she has reminded us that she is on her way to being two; vehemently expressing her opinions and complaining when things aren't to her liking; I am already worrying about her as a teenager.
Since Monday she has insisted on drinking liquids from a cup without aid of a sippy-top, straw, or a mommy/daddy helping out. Yep, she takes the cup from you puts it to her own mouth, tilts it by herself, and drinks. She gets quite annoyed with you if you try to help her. Cam and I are a little floored by this since she seems to be on par with Dallas' mastery of this skill.
In the last week she has increased her signs from one (her hand moving to her mouth to mean "drink", "food", and/or "binki") to "food/eat", "drink", "please", and "more". She is putting a "buh" sound with waving bye-bye.
Dallas said, "Mom watch this" to me at lunch and proceeded to do some silly dance while shaking his head. He is talking more and more; attempting more and more words and repeating things he hears you say.
We tried playing a memory-type game with him a few weeks ago. He caught onto the order you turn things over in and how to wait and take turns. Playing games is now when of his favorite things to do.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
No One Seems to Have Open Positions
After the budget cuts EVERY school district seemed to go through it is "good luck" to finding any district that is hiring. There are a few that are, but the closing date is in October or December, no where near September... sigh... Suppose I should look into something else...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Waiver Day
Also known as "teacher workshop days" when I was growing up. The kids all get the day off while the teachers (and para educators) have to come into work. Last waiver day I spent getting Red Cross CPR and First Aid certified, this time there weren't any optional classes to go to. I spent the weekend thinking what we could do to keep us busy ALL day long. This morning I was dreading that today would be a long day.
I am still getting over a cold and am in the "smoker's cough" phase today. I was thinking if it was slow and very tedious day I would just leave early using my sickness as an excuse and spend the day recuperating. But today was the FASTEST day I have had at work yet and that is saying alot. I did alot of copies, corrects lots of work, found a few AWESOME websites for time and money worksheets.
I got to work a little late and was able to leave a little early but the hours all worked out because I took a working lunch (I usually pump at lunch but since Dallas destroyed one of the membranes on the pump this weekend, single pumping would just take too long). All-in-all it was a good day.
I am still getting over a cold and am in the "smoker's cough" phase today. I was thinking if it was slow and very tedious day I would just leave early using my sickness as an excuse and spend the day recuperating. But today was the FASTEST day I have had at work yet and that is saying alot. I did alot of copies, corrects lots of work, found a few AWESOME websites for time and money worksheets.
I got to work a little late and was able to leave a little early but the hours all worked out because I took a working lunch (I usually pump at lunch but since Dallas destroyed one of the membranes on the pump this weekend, single pumping would just take too long). All-in-all it was a good day.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Benefits
In the Auburn School District benefits kick in the 1st of the month after you have worked ten days. I only worked four days in Febraury so I have been waiting ALL March for the 1st of April and my dental benefits to kick in.
I had a filling fall out in the back of my mouth in December. It really hadn't been that bad until the end(ish) of February but has been steadily getting worse and more sensetive. I can't eat cold cereal because the cold milk ends up in every nook and crany of my mouth and I have massive sensitivity issues. Also food loves to get stuck in that gaping chasm in my mouth. I use to be able to play with it with my tongue and stuck the inside of my check and that would remove alot of stuck food. Now sucking the inside of my mouth causes a huge pain in my tooth (and jaw. It has gotten bad enough that I have to be careful how badly I suck my spit together before I swallow... I know you really didn't want to hear that but, too bad, you got to anyway.) Floss does jack, and a tooth brush doesn't do too much either. The best I can do is swish with body temperature water (it can't be too cold or too hot or it hurts).
So imagine my elation when APRIL finally rolls around. Well my health card arrived promptly on the 1st but nothing from the dental company... so I email the person in HR that deals with benefits. They gist of her response was to wait until the end of the month and then call if I hadn't gotten my card; they usually tell new employees not to expect to schedule anything the first month of having their benefits because it takes a while to get new employees in their systems. Well I wasn't taking that. I had already waited a month and I had those benefits NOW dang it! It wasn't the end of the month yet but I want that root canal ASAP (never thought you would hear someone who wanted a root canal, did you?)
I called the dental company Friday after school. I wasn't in the system yet... but my name was on the new list they got from the school district that day. The operator quickly put me in the system and transfered me over to make an appointment. I go in Wednesday morning for my new patient exam and hopefully I can get the root canal soon thereafter; both of my back teeth are shot all to heck I fear. I will let you know if a root canal is all I hope and dream it will be...
I had a filling fall out in the back of my mouth in December. It really hadn't been that bad until the end(ish) of February but has been steadily getting worse and more sensetive. I can't eat cold cereal because the cold milk ends up in every nook and crany of my mouth and I have massive sensitivity issues. Also food loves to get stuck in that gaping chasm in my mouth. I use to be able to play with it with my tongue and stuck the inside of my check and that would remove alot of stuck food. Now sucking the inside of my mouth causes a huge pain in my tooth (and jaw. It has gotten bad enough that I have to be careful how badly I suck my spit together before I swallow... I know you really didn't want to hear that but, too bad, you got to anyway.) Floss does jack, and a tooth brush doesn't do too much either. The best I can do is swish with body temperature water (it can't be too cold or too hot or it hurts).
So imagine my elation when APRIL finally rolls around. Well my health card arrived promptly on the 1st but nothing from the dental company... so I email the person in HR that deals with benefits. They gist of her response was to wait until the end of the month and then call if I hadn't gotten my card; they usually tell new employees not to expect to schedule anything the first month of having their benefits because it takes a while to get new employees in their systems. Well I wasn't taking that. I had already waited a month and I had those benefits NOW dang it! It wasn't the end of the month yet but I want that root canal ASAP (never thought you would hear someone who wanted a root canal, did you?)
I called the dental company Friday after school. I wasn't in the system yet... but my name was on the new list they got from the school district that day. The operator quickly put me in the system and transfered me over to make an appointment. I go in Wednesday morning for my new patient exam and hopefully I can get the root canal soon thereafter; both of my back teeth are shot all to heck I fear. I will let you know if a root canal is all I hope and dream it will be...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
This town ain't big enough for the two of us...
This job is totally going to cramp my blog writing, I can already tell...
We all seems to be adjusting well. I am really enjoying my work. I only do any one thing for an hour tops so the day is split up nicely. Everything goes by quickly. The kids are great and the school is full of nice, positive, accepting people. Anyway I don't notice how much I miss my lil'uns until I get home and see their faces/cuddle with them.
Cam seems to be enjoying being home with the kids for the most part. He also admits it is making him try to find things to do to help out around the house more. This is all probably a good thing since it looks like I maybe teaching fulltime next year (if I can get my WA certification and someone will hire me that is, Auburn District does have a high school and middle school opening so hopefully the odds are good).
Chelane is stilljust as happy as ever. Someone at church this past Sunday asked me how old she was, when I responded "5 months" (which I think I can safely say now that we are into March) he said "oh so she is still keeping you up at night." That is when I got to thinking, yet again, how blessed I am to have had two really good sleepers. Since I have to deal with any mid-night problems, working could be very hard if she wasn't snoozing for 6-8 hours a night. I am also really blessed to have Uncle Jadon around. He keeps her entertained like it is nobody's business. I don't think I mentioned when she started laughing. I got her to do it really once right around four months and never again. I have tried acting silly, tickling, eating her tummy - you know, all the tricks. But Saturday Jadon was jumping around (or something, I was downstairs) and Chelane was laughing up a storm... I guess I am just not that funny...
I actually find that I have more patience with Dallas after being gone all day and after being at school all day I find I want to do productive activities with him (reading, puzzles, colors, drawing, etc.). We read Go Dog Go tonight and Dallas really got into it (and signed along since I was signing some of the words - he also said "go" a lot). After we were done he was asking for the book again, I don't know why I didn't think of Dr. Seuss books earlier...
Oh, that was another things I was going to mention, I don't think I would have known that March 2nd was the birthday of Dr. Seuss if I wasn't working at an elementary school, but most teachers revolve their whole day around something Seuss-like. With all the rhyming there is a lot to do with "word families" and the longer stories have pretty deep things to talk about. Dr. Seuss sure was one smart cookie.
We all seems to be adjusting well. I am really enjoying my work. I only do any one thing for an hour tops so the day is split up nicely. Everything goes by quickly. The kids are great and the school is full of nice, positive, accepting people. Anyway I don't notice how much I miss my lil'uns until I get home and see their faces/cuddle with them.
Cam seems to be enjoying being home with the kids for the most part. He also admits it is making him try to find things to do to help out around the house more. This is all probably a good thing since it looks like I maybe teaching fulltime next year (if I can get my WA certification and someone will hire me that is, Auburn District does have a high school and middle school opening so hopefully the odds are good).
Chelane is stilljust as happy as ever. Someone at church this past Sunday asked me how old she was, when I responded "5 months" (which I think I can safely say now that we are into March) he said "oh so she is still keeping you up at night." That is when I got to thinking, yet again, how blessed I am to have had two really good sleepers. Since I have to deal with any mid-night problems, working could be very hard if she wasn't snoozing for 6-8 hours a night. I am also really blessed to have Uncle Jadon around. He keeps her entertained like it is nobody's business. I don't think I mentioned when she started laughing. I got her to do it really once right around four months and never again. I have tried acting silly, tickling, eating her tummy - you know, all the tricks. But Saturday Jadon was jumping around (or something, I was downstairs) and Chelane was laughing up a storm... I guess I am just not that funny...
I actually find that I have more patience with Dallas after being gone all day and after being at school all day I find I want to do productive activities with him (reading, puzzles, colors, drawing, etc.). We read Go Dog Go tonight and Dallas really got into it (and signed along since I was signing some of the words - he also said "go" a lot). After we were done he was asking for the book again, I don't know why I didn't think of Dr. Seuss books earlier...
Oh, that was another things I was going to mention, I don't think I would have known that March 2nd was the birthday of Dr. Seuss if I wasn't working at an elementary school, but most teachers revolve their whole day around something Seuss-like. With all the rhyming there is a lot to do with "word families" and the longer stories have pretty deep things to talk about. Dr. Seuss sure was one smart cookie.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Job
This job is wonderful. First off, I get an alloted amount to spend on dental/vision/health insurance before any money is taken out of my pay check. I am able to cover myself and my entire family with vision and dental insurance and get health insurance for myself out of this amount. Second, I am only working through the end of the school year (June 20th-ish) but will continue to get paid through August (not that what I am getting paid would be enough to live on quite yet). Third, I work with a good group of kids and have the opportunity of teaching almost every one of them in a small group setting at some point in the day. Fourth, one of those kids is Amanda, an old friend of Jadon's. My mom knows her mom and all that jazz. Fifth, I get to listen to an average of two chapters of Holes every lunch period. Honestly I could go on and on (and maybe sometime I will, but I need to go to the store with Mom right now). But let's just say I look forward to the day and they go by faster than any job I have had...
Sunday, February 1, 2009
I Got A Job
So for those of you that don't know, I got a job as a paraeducator with the Auburn school distirct. It is 8:55-3:55 (I was thinking it would be more part-time than that, but oh well) until the end of the school year. So Cam is going to do the stay at home thing. So *sigh* I had to start pumping again and, since I found out I got the job at 4pm on Friday and I start Monday, we haven't had much time to introduce Chelane to a bottle. The two times we have tried, she seems to take it just fine, but may need faster flowing nipples (the bottle puts her to sleep... so weird, with Dallas it was the other way around).
I still don't know exactly what I will be doing with the job, but it is money which is something we need pretty badly right now. I am a little bummed out to be leaving my babies all day but at least they will be with their dad. Oh also the school is Chinook Elementary which is down by Mucklshoot on Auburn-Enumclaw road, so a bit of a drive.
Hopefully by the end of the school year Cam will have a job with the Washington State Patrol (we mailed in the application this last week) and will be heading out to training or something like that. Although I have stopped trying to set up "best case scenarios" or "what Kassie would really like to happen" in my head because when they don't happen I get all stressed out, and that isn't good for anyone!
I still don't know exactly what I will be doing with the job, but it is money which is something we need pretty badly right now. I am a little bummed out to be leaving my babies all day but at least they will be with their dad. Oh also the school is Chinook Elementary which is down by Mucklshoot on Auburn-Enumclaw road, so a bit of a drive.
Hopefully by the end of the school year Cam will have a job with the Washington State Patrol (we mailed in the application this last week) and will be heading out to training or something like that. Although I have stopped trying to set up "best case scenarios" or "what Kassie would really like to happen" in my head because when they don't happen I get all stressed out, and that isn't good for anyone!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
It Has Come to My Attention...
That I have never had a formal interview before... EVER. Yes, I am 23 have worked in three or four jobs (without much of a break since I was 16.5) and have never interviewed. I haven't even had a "fake" training type interview. Absolutely NO interview experience (have you caught onto that yet?)... until yesterday.
I realized this startling (and detrimental) fact while driving to the Auburn School District to interview for a Special Education paraeducator position. Well, sitting in a room with a person asking questions wouldn't be too bad. Except it was four people. Four principals. Four principals that all have a paraeducator opening at their school. Four principals with two pages of questions on which they will rate my responses.
During one or two of the questions I actually started answering before having a complete thought of where my diatribe was going and was thinking "oh shoot, what was the question again?" All-in-all I think it went just fine (although they were curious as to why someone with a Math Education degree was looking for paraeducator work, they understood when I told them I had to take tests to get my Washington licence). If I haven't heard from HR by next Wednesday it "would be appropriate to call"...
I realized this startling (and detrimental) fact while driving to the Auburn School District to interview for a Special Education paraeducator position. Well, sitting in a room with a person asking questions wouldn't be too bad. Except it was four people. Four principals. Four principals that all have a paraeducator opening at their school. Four principals with two pages of questions on which they will rate my responses.
During one or two of the questions I actually started answering before having a complete thought of where my diatribe was going and was thinking "oh shoot, what was the question again?" All-in-all I think it went just fine (although they were curious as to why someone with a Math Education degree was looking for paraeducator work, they understood when I told them I had to take tests to get my Washington licence). If I haven't heard from HR by next Wednesday it "would be appropriate to call"...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Stagnant
I really hate when blogs get to be more than a week old. I read many friends blogs and frankly get annoyed if there is nothing new for a while (*cough* Christine *cough*). While I was thinking about this today I realized MY last blog post wasn't very recent itself, so to avoid being a hypocrite and annoying myself I decided I should write something intelligent, witty, and above all engrossing for all my blog readers... but I couldn't come up with anything.
Cam is still waiting to hear back from job applications. He is thinking (I think he is thinking at least, sometimes it is hard to tell with him... and sometimes his opinions and plans change quickly... sometimes I wonder if he is pregnant... oh shoot, where was I? Oh yes...) of applying with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) again (he applied back before Dallas was born while we were living in Utah but they somehow missed that he was out of state so we never got the info packet that he needed and it turned out to be a big mess so Cam just said "no" and focused on something else), but he needs his discharge papers from the Army reserve and we just found the form that he needs to fill out to request it. Average response time is 2.9 weeks, but that is including all the really, really old forms from before the 70's that they have to dig up. Hopefully the response time will only be a week or two. I guess if he doesn't end up wanting to apply with the WSP having his papers isn't a bad thing anyway; who knows, other employers may want the papers too.
I have applied for two positions with the Kent School District, both para-educator positions. I have to go through some tests and classes and who-knows-what-else to actually teach and I don't know if that is what I want to do anyway *sigh*. I just finished filling out an application that I will probably go drop off or mail tomorrow for the Auburn School District (again para-educator).
Yeah, I know, this is all over stimulating to the point of unconsciousness.
Dallas on the other hand is making some progress in social abilities since we moved up to the great Northwest. We went to Grandma's "Moving and Grooving" class at the Children's Therapy Center last Friday (and will be going again this Friday, it is an every Friday sorta thing). They have a play-time then a singing-time then another play-time followed by a group activity. At the end of the first play-time Dallas had some reluctance to put the toys away and go sit in the circle. At the end of the second play-time he picked up and walked himself over to the circle to do the group activity without any prompting. Yesterday we went to a story-time (that really wasn't a story-time, it was an activity reserved by some mother-group, but they let us stay anyway) at the Maple Valley Library and Dallas would get up and dance with the other kids at appropriate times and then come back to sit with me. He still doesn't obey all the time and he still has some fits, but the kids is improving lots.
Chelane is a talking machine. I think her and Dallas will probably progress with their talking together (I believe she will be an early talker). She is babbling up a storm in her crib right now actually, and the babbling is getting progressivily more annoyed sounding... I think she may be hungry so I should probably get on that...
Cam is still waiting to hear back from job applications. He is thinking (I think he is thinking at least, sometimes it is hard to tell with him... and sometimes his opinions and plans change quickly... sometimes I wonder if he is pregnant... oh shoot, where was I? Oh yes...) of applying with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) again (he applied back before Dallas was born while we were living in Utah but they somehow missed that he was out of state so we never got the info packet that he needed and it turned out to be a big mess so Cam just said "no" and focused on something else), but he needs his discharge papers from the Army reserve and we just found the form that he needs to fill out to request it. Average response time is 2.9 weeks, but that is including all the really, really old forms from before the 70's that they have to dig up. Hopefully the response time will only be a week or two. I guess if he doesn't end up wanting to apply with the WSP having his papers isn't a bad thing anyway; who knows, other employers may want the papers too.
I have applied for two positions with the Kent School District, both para-educator positions. I have to go through some tests and classes and who-knows-what-else to actually teach and I don't know if that is what I want to do anyway *sigh*. I just finished filling out an application that I will probably go drop off or mail tomorrow for the Auburn School District (again para-educator).
Yeah, I know, this is all over stimulating to the point of unconsciousness.
Dallas on the other hand is making some progress in social abilities since we moved up to the great Northwest. We went to Grandma's "Moving and Grooving" class at the Children's Therapy Center last Friday (and will be going again this Friday, it is an every Friday sorta thing). They have a play-time then a singing-time then another play-time followed by a group activity. At the end of the first play-time Dallas had some reluctance to put the toys away and go sit in the circle. At the end of the second play-time he picked up and walked himself over to the circle to do the group activity without any prompting. Yesterday we went to a story-time (that really wasn't a story-time, it was an activity reserved by some mother-group, but they let us stay anyway) at the Maple Valley Library and Dallas would get up and dance with the other kids at appropriate times and then come back to sit with me. He still doesn't obey all the time and he still has some fits, but the kids is improving lots.
Chelane is a talking machine. I think her and Dallas will probably progress with their talking together (I believe she will be an early talker). She is babbling up a storm in her crib right now actually, and the babbling is getting progressivily more annoyed sounding... I think she may be hungry so I should probably get on that...
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