I knew someone like this! They had a 3 bedroom house, and she turned 1 room into a closet. When I saw it, I was speechless. It was really hard not to say something rude. I just couldn't believe it. She had more clothes than I had ever seen anyone actually own at one time. And shoes. There were so many shoes.

:lol: Yeah, he's a bit nuts. But I will add that my parents are like that. They made sure they had their new garage painted with that epoxy stuff, and have special mats that they park their tires onto. Really. I think it's a bit crazy, but each person has his/her own crazy. :tongue_smilie: And they thought I was odd for not doing that for our new place.

If you just want a feel for the campus, you can do Magnolia and Baylor in a day. Magnolia is not that large, mostly a shop and bakery, plus food trucks. You can drive around Baylor, maybe walk around the main areas, stop in for some coffee at Common Ground. Park somewhere you can get a trolly to Magnolia. And remember that it's really hot. Have water with you. And yes, avoid I-35 if possible. You do take 6 up from College Station, so not an issue there. Enjoy your tours.

As I read this I was trying to remember the details of the video. In my mind, all I could picture was a white piano and funny glasses. So for fun I went and watched it. :lol: yeah, there was a lot more to that video that I had forgotten. It is a good song.

I don't have their flip flops, but Vionic works great and they do sell flip flops. I would try them.

:grouphug: My dh was the main doc for his group practice's nursing home care for years, and he has seen a lot. It is so difficult to deal with every level of detail of care for someone in your father's condtion. I can tell from your description that your dad is at the point where his care will be better in a facility. Better for him and you. :grouphug: :grouphug: I know it's not easy. I hope you can have him admitted soon.

I'm glad you found that option! Still praing for Jenna anf the rest of you"re family.

I subbed this past year at my kids' schools. For the most part I enjoyed it. I viewed it like being the aunt or grandmom. You only have to handle them for a little while then you give them back. I really liked getting to know the schools and teachers. I have a lot more confidence in my kids being there. I've also been able to make some good contacts if there are problems (with my kids). Some classes were quite chaotic. I can tell who the good teachers are. :) But, for the most part, I learned how to navigate the kids. I always gave my rules up front. I was normally lenient, letting kids go to the restroom (1 at a time), listen to music on their phone or even watch a movie on their iPads. If the teacher left specific instrucitions against those things, I simply read the instructions to the students so they know where they stood. I didn't hesitate to write down names of kids who were a problem. A kind of funny; I wrote up one girl for her attitude, because she all out started arguing with me and was very rude. That entire class was rough, but she was a problem. The next week she called me out on it. I told her exactly what I wrote and why. She just looked at me and said, "yeah, you're right". :D By spring the kids, especially in the middle school where I subbed the most, knew me. So they knew what to expect. Most thought I was fair. They liked that I didn't mind them talking. As long as the kids weren't loud or out of control, I didn't mind. Some subs, especially the much older ones, get very angry when the kids talk at all. I remember being a kid in school and having a sub, and if there aren't lesson plans, it can get very boring. I liked the flexibility of subbing, and I liked getting to know the kids and teachers. I think it's worth doing, at least for a time, to get to know the place where your kids are all day. I never did elementary school. Honestly, the idea of being with that many little kids all day terrifies me, so I stuck to older kids. :)

:grouphug: :grouphug: praying for your entire family.

For future reference: Vodka. Buy the cheap stuff, don't dilute it. Use it as you would Febreeze.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Praying for you guys.

I pm'd you. :)

no, It would not have to be paid, but I don't know of many jobs that can afford for an employee to just take time off, but you are correct I may need to look at it a different way. I really could just do an aide or some other support type job at the school, and I may stick to that plan. But a large part of me would like the ability to make a real income, not just supplement a little.

At the beginning of this school year I was thinking about subbing until I could get a support position, but now I believe I want more of a career. But it would be easier to head that route.

This probably deserves a separate post. But in TN we lived in house that was built in 1902. I did a lot on that house myself, ripping down wallpaper, ripping up carpet. Most of me hated that house. We bought it because it was the best option there, and we were able to sell it (at a huge lost, but still) . Here is TX we bought a brand new place, just built. I love it! I never, ever want an old house again.

There were a lot of open positions this year, though I've no idea how many applicants per job. It could be high. The city always has jobs in demand. No one wants to work there...... Special Ed seems to come in waves (as far as jobs). Right now there isn't much. OTA, on the other hand has tons of work, everywhere. I do understand the work. My dh did a lot of work in a nursing home. My dd has worked as a CNA and we have a few friends who are OTs, in fact I'm thinking of seeing if we can get together for dinner with one of them and see her thoughts.

Kinsa, We are liking TX. AT least when people ask where we just came from, when I say TN there is some respect. :lol: Most people say that if they couldn't live in TX they woud live in TN.

See, 7 years is a long time for more vacation time. By the time I start working I'll be 50. I'm looking at 10 to 12 years of working. As far as which teaching jobs are in most demand.......I'm not that great at math, I could never past the exam for that. Science would be a little easier, but I'm not that fond of teaching science. I'm more and English or history person. And i think English would be the easiest way to go because I believe I have 12 credits from college (maybe only 9, i have to check), but it would be easier to persue. My head has been spinning. I feel like time is ticking away and I need to figure it out. If I want to teach I need to secure and aid job and get recommendations. If I decide on OTA I need to start setting seeking volunteer opportunties. I could let it go another year, but once my son enters college I'll be feeling pressure to not be in school (pressure from me). Blah......This is what happens when I have a day off. My head goes round and round trying to figure out what I want. Up until this month had had been subbing everday. But they upped the pay this month and every sub in the area has come out of the woodwork. :D

I've been keeping up with the boards when I can, but I've been busy since moving last summer. We moved to the heart of TX, but didn't get a fixer upper. :tongue_smilie: :laugh: Any way, moving was stressful, but we are settled. We enrolled the 3 boys in school, and they are doing well. The only exception to that was that my middle son, who played baseball back in TN, discovered that it's a lot more competive here. He didn't make the school team. :( He's determined to keep trying, and I can't seem to convince him to try for something else. Moving from rural TN to TX was a bit like moving to another country. I have been subbing at the school, the high school, middle and intermediate. I've enjoyed it. It's been good to get to know the teachers, the school system and the kids. Now for my mid-life crisis. What do I want to do when I grow up? My original plan had been to sub for the next year and a half, then seek a full time job, some office type job (we will have 2 in college at that point). I realized that if I re-entered the workforce at that point I would have no vacation time. I'd be starting all over. So I started thinking about teaching. I could persue an alternative teaching certificate. I would need to secure some recomendations, as well as a aid job, but I believe I can get that. I know I would be a good teacher. I don't know if I would love it. I could do it, I may even enjoy it at times. But I don't know......... For the most part, I'm leaning this way. It would take a couple of years to do, but I could do it. I believe I could find some job when I graduate, but there is a risk. For the most part, this area is growing fast, and I would have a good in by already working in the school. I'm also thinking about becoming an OTA. This would require a little bit more, since I lack some of the pre-rec's that are needed. It would also mean that lack of that vaction thing. But the pay would be pretty good and I could work PRN. I could also move and still find work (we're planning on being here at least 8 years). I'm looking for additional thoughts. Everyday the pendulum swings one way or another. I could also just keep subbing. While more money would be good, my dh could work extra and quickly make more than I could working full time. This is about me. I want a career. I want something for me. Oh, additional background about me. I have a degree in Business Admin and finance from 25 yrs ago.........so not in either field.

:hurray: That's it! Thank-you! It was driving me crazy and she's really in need of some help for her class.

That doesn't look like it. Good suggestion, though.

Ok, so many, many years ago (around 10 years), while I was looking at some things to supplement our writing program I found a writing promt series. It was designed for middle grades (I think!). It was not aimed at homeschoolers. It was simply a sentence pulled from literature. Then the goal was not just to copy it from dictation, but to change it, sort of make it your own. At the time I was using IEW, and was looking at different supplements. I can't remember if it was a mentioned supplement (I had listened to lectures) or if I found it by following a link, then another link and seeing it come up on Amazon at the bottom with, people who bought this also looked at....... I know someone who is now teaching middle school writing and would love something like that. She used to homeschool but doesn't remember the series. I know this is a long shot, but I thougt maybe the Hive could help. :)

Congratulations! And such a lovely name.

I wouldn't move somewhere I hated just for the money. That being said, research what they are telling you about the pay. They can promise a lot, but often it's smoke and mirrors. Be careful. You are better off being somewhere you want and taking the time to establish your practice. I get the debt thing, really. My dh worked it an underserved area to get debt relief (which is also an option), but it was already what he wanted to do so it worked out well. But we've known people who have moved for those promised pay differential and it end up being not quite the truth. Good luck.

my son's $400 bat was stolen at baseball tryouts........and he might not even make that team