SCSLC

The SC student loan corporation is ridiculously stupid! 100% of my next payment goes to interest and absolutely NOTHING goes to principal... Can they do this?

Bloggin' in the Middle of the Night

Yes, it is 3 am, and yes, I am writing a blog. I took 2 Excederin for a headache around 10 tonight and when it passed I fell asleep. Well... I guess the caffiene decided to also kick in. It just did so about an hour ago and I CANNOT sleep! It has been so very long since I have written a blog, so why not now?

We have had an extremely busy month. Some things that have happened have been very good and others have been very bad. Here is a rundown of the past 3 weeks:

Good...

1. We got to spend time with Austin's family. Mrs. Deborah and Mr. Chuck were able to come down the first of the month and spend a few days each taking care of Owen while I was in class. It was good that Owen got to spend time alone with his grandparents, it doesn't happen very often. We also took a trip to Rockingham to see Austin's grandparents. We had a very nice visit and Owen was on his best behavior. :)

2. Owen decided it was time to start using the potty. We are not forcing him, but when he says "Pee-pee," we run. The only embaressing time is at the waterpark because he cannot distinguish between his swimmy being wet from the water and wet from tinkle. I bought pull-ups today. My hope is that they feel different from a diaper and he will still want to go potty.

3. Austin's new job is working out well. If he is "owed" time, he gets it without having to go in and ask if it is okay for him to come in late or get off early. They approach him about it.

4. I got a new phone. It is a Blackberry Pearl. We went into Suncom to get a phone for Austin and somehow came out with one for me. My husband is the greatest... now, if I can only figure out how to use it!

5. I now have a new beautifully monogrammed Vera Bradley purse per Aunt Gwen. :) I love VB stuff!

6. We have been decluttering and are much closer to having Owen a playroom! Yay!!!

7. My crock-pot cooking is getting much better! With it being close to 100 degrees everyday I cannot justify heating up the house with the oven.

8. Austin is learning to can vegetables. The ones we have eaten have been very good and are perfect side dishes for my crock-pot food.

9. Did I mention that Owen is starting to go potty???

10. I still have another 6 weeks before I go back to work!

Bad (only 2 things)...

1. Andrew is gone. (I really hope Kristin doesn't read this, she will KILL me.) Kristin will get through this and will be a better person in the end. Enough said.

2. Austin is now working night shift. My phone ringer has been turned off and I have missed many phone calls.

Here are some random pics that I should have put in as I wrote, but it is 3:30 and nobody thinks clearly at 3:30.

Eating grapes... yummy!

Loves the phone... not sure where he got that trait from.

Playing with Trenton

Owen and Great-Papa

Owen and Great-Grandmother

A Boy and His Dog

My Big Boy

Potty!

Today, Owen went potty, twice, on his brand new potty chair! We are so proud of him!!!!

Teacher Salary

I read this and found it funny! I thought I would share, the sad part about it is that it is true.

Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do--baby sit!

We can get that for less than minimum wage. That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked, not any of that silly planning time. That would be $19.50 a day (7:00 AM to 3:30 (or so) PM with just 25 min. off for lunch). Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby- sit their children.

NOW... How many do they teach in a class, 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! We're not going to pay them for any vacations. LET'S SEE.... That's $585 x 180= $105,300 per year.

What about those special teachers and the ones with master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage, and just to be fair, round it off to $7.00 an hour.That would be $7 x 6 1/2 hours x 30 children x 180 > days = $245,700 per year.

Wait a minute--there' s something wrong here! Average teacher salary $50,000/180 days = $277/per day/30 students = $9.23/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student.
A very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even try - with your help - to EDUCATE your kids!

WHAT A DEAL.... And the parents don't even have to buy us pizza!

Make a teacher smile; send this to someone else who appreciates teachers...

First Real Day Off

Today was my first real day out of school and I loved it! Owen let me sleep until 7. I am in class all this week and wondering what I have gotten myself into with the NBPTS stuff. Next school year will be busy and it will start with a TON of reading this summer, but we will make it and it will be worth it... every penny of it! :) We are looking forward to our visit with Grandma (Deborah) tonight and then later this week with Pop-Pop (Chuck). Please keep Kristin in your prayers, she needs a lot right now.

1/2 day left with the children!!!!! YAY, I made it!!!! :)