Thank you all so very much! Yes, this guy will be going to college, but not as a STEM student. He has not done much by way of science at all.

I have failed my son. Life has completely taken over, and I have allowed myself to get sucked away from making school a priority for my 11th grader. I am not new at this -- this is my 19th year of homeschooling. I am comfortable figuring out credit completion in most areas. And then there's science. I need ideas pronto for 2 credit-worthy basic science courses. Any suggestions you have are more than welcome. Thank you so much!

There's a little part-time job that has come to my attention, and I have an interview tomorrow. It is for a receptionist/secretary at a chiropractor's office. It's only 8 hours a week (two 4-hour shifts, Monday and Thursday from 3:00 - 7:00). I am not even sure this is worth my time, but I may as well go to the interview. I haven't updated my resume in YEARS. I've been home schooling for the last 17 years, and have done ministry work (unpaid). How on earth do I word all of this on a resume?

This was exactly what I was going to say. I am so very sorry.... :grouphug:

dh and dd for his 50th birthday (I was home prepping for a baby shower). This was just a few weeks ago. They LOVED it. They said the same thing everyone else has already said -- calm, peaceful, quiet, lovely, enjoyable, relaxing, easy, can't wait to do it again. And yes, ask them to dip you! Enjoy making a lovely memory with your mom :)

Curiosity piqued! I got a book for D's to work through this year that has lessons for all Microsoft 2007 office suite components (that's the one I have; other Microsoft versions are also available). One Note is in there, and after reading this thread, I believe I need to check it out myself!

Oh yes, this! Even though it's two different unions, we have the same story. I am glad that you understand. DH's work has never taken him out if state, but those connections and his good reputation and work ethic have gotten him called off the out-of-work list by name every single time. Work is just very scarce right now. You all have helped me so much. As of right now, I think moving to a lower tax house, me getting certified or earning a degree so I can have a steady stream of income doing something I LOVE for the next 20 years, and dh riding out the union work by continuing to do pulpit supply when he can and handyman work (which he is very good at!) - all while continuing toward his bachelors sounds like a plan! THANK YOU!!!!!!! Now about my father...... :/

YES!!! Scattering the family is a huge consideration. Thank you for praying. Know that I will be praying for your family, too.

He will be calling on Tuesday to look into it. Which union is your dh with?

Moving away has its benefits, but leaving the union will come at a cost we cannot afford.

I believe I do have marketable skills. I was a secretary in my former life with a background in hospitality, corporate, and legal. Honestly, the one suggestion that is resonating is for me to get some updated training so I can hit the ground running when I need to. I feel better already!!

Well, the only debt we have is the house. We have one credit card and pay it off every month. Our credit ratings are very high (over 800). Our monthly bills are doable. I am looking for part-time work. DH is preaching as a fill-in every Sunday and getting paid for that, thankfully. I'd love to be able to finish the next three years of homeschooling and then go back to work full-time so we can breathe and quit taking money from the inheritance. I would love to go back to school for medical billing or some such thing, but gosh I hate to spend the money! I love what one of you said about focusing on a future stream of income and doing what it takes to achieve that. Back to square one - do we sell this house now, downsize, and use the extra money for school? Or do I .,... what? I just need someone to tell me what to do. I am overwhelmed.

I wish you could all come sit in my living room and go over this slowly with me. I am an emotional mess and can't think straight. I am missing my mother dearly (she left us three years ago, but I don't think I will ever get used to her being gone). She always took us on vacation the day after labor day. I have recently been rejected, yet again, by my father. And I am in menopause (my estrogen level is 6). Ok....moving on. HVAC work would definitely be more steady but in Jersey, you work through the plumbers & pipe fitters union not the sheet metal workers. That would mean starting over with training, etc. and walking away from a pension we are invested in. Plus buying his union card (a few thousand dollars, if I remember correctly). Our oldest pays for his own insurance and his data for his phone. My dd can't afford to pay us anything, but she buys her own stuff (except food). We do pay the taxes monthly, which makes it more manageable, but it's over $800 a month. Right now, I am paying our mortgage with money I inherited. It will eventually run out and then we'll really be in a bind. Thanks for your input. I feel a bit like Clair Dunphy when she said, "Why does everything have to suck?!"

My sweet hubby is a sheet metal worker by trade. The work is ridiculously spotty. In 25 years of marriage, work has NEVER been a steady, stable thing. I am so very tired of the instability and the uncertainty. A nice, steady pay check would be a dream come true. Have you or your husband made a career change at this age? DH is an ordained pastor, but he does not have a degree. He was ordained at our church after sitting for an ordination council of pastors and missionaries (all of whom have masters and/or doctorates). Just saying all of that so you don't think he is a mail-order pastor ;) He is more than halfway to his bachelor's degree, but with work being like it is, there is no way we can afford to keep sending him to school. When he's working, he doesn't have time for school; when he isn't working, we don't have the money. We own a home worth over $300,000. We owe just over $80,000 on the mortgage. Taxes are obscene (about $10,000 a year). We would like to sell the house and get something smaller, but all 3 kids still live at home. Oldest ds is working in West Virginia until election day, and then he'll be home and unemployed again. Also, if we were to sell this house, we could buy something outright where the taxes are lower and have no mortgage, but what does that do for your credit? Is anyone familiar with such a situation? I have friends who haven't had a mortgage in over 10 years, and they can't get a loan for their kids for school or for a car. The union kind of owns you -- if you aren't familiar with how it works. It would cost us money to leave it, and we would be foolish to leave this area unless it were to transfer to another local. With the economy and construction being as they are, no locals are taking transfers. We cannot just walk away from the benefits. I feel so stuck. I wish Something gloriously wonderful could just happen for us and we would know exactly what to do and where to go and live happily ever after. Foolish, I know. But a girl can dream.

Oh I hear you! Forever and ever I have "wanted" to give up sugar, but I haven't. This made me question if I truly wanted to do it or not. Now that I am 50 and fully menopausal, I've been reassessing quite a few things. I truly do not want heart disease. I do not want diabetes. I do not want clogged arteries, cardiac procedures or surgeries. I do not want to wear size 16 or 14 jeans. I decided that my previous "attempts" were half-hearted and fake. I can go a week or two and not eat a baked good or a bowl of ice cream, but I don't blink at the notion of drinking 8 cups of coffee a day, each with a good 2 teaspoons of sugar in them. So this time, I started there. I now drink my coffee with no sugar. It took a few days to adjust, but I have. I also decreased how much of it I make and drink. I have 4 cups a day instead of 8. And it's mostly decaf (1 scoop of regular to every 4 scoops of decaf). Once I made this change, I felt empowered to do the rest. This was the most difficult for me. But it is so worth it! I feel so much better. When I eat sugar, I wake up feeling hung over. Just do it.

Thank you all so much! I was born and raised in Philly. DH is from Iowa. We have lived in Jersey for the last 17 years. I think I can safely cross Norfolk off the list. It doesn't sound like what we're looking for. DH lived in Woodbridge for a while before we got married. It's crazy busy up there; not sure if we want to do that either. I would love nothing more than to be within driving distance of the ocean. I about died when dh and I lived in Iowa for 8 years. The Mississippi just ain't the Atlantic ;) Ashland is looking very nice. Now to find work for dh....

I am especially interested in your story if you used to live in another state and relocated to Virginia. I am particularly interested in the Ashland or Richmond or Norfolk areas.

The day after labor day. Because I can. :)

No, no blood. That infection you had sounds awful!!! Glad you are on the mend!

Wow, thank you all SO MUCH! I gave him a stool softener earlier - just one - but nothing yet. He did have an appetite and ate some dinner. I have activia already in the fridge, so he'll be eating those. My daughter has some probiotics, and I'll add them in as well. I am relieved ...... uh....... maybe not the best word choice, but I'm leaving it because it's punny ;)

We have an appointment with his doctor next week (because he's on vacation THIS week, naturally). A little background: Matt was in the ER about 2 weeks ago for dehydration. They gave him IV fluids, and a full blood work panel as well as an EKG and urinalysis. The diagnosis was viral enteritis and dehydration (in other words, viral diarrhea with resulting dehydration). In looking over his lab results, all of the tests which came out abnormal fit into this diagnosis. Problem is, he's still not right. He's feeling out of it, "urpy", and now constipated. He has NO appetite whatsoever. I am freaking out because I keep thinking something awful is wrong with him. I am wondering if any of you can offer some insight??

I have never done it, but I have friends who have. From what I understand, it's all about portion control, clean eating, and exercise. In other words, it's what we all know we should be doing, all repackaged and inclusive with portion containers (color coded) and guidebook. I hate the thought of spending money on what I already know. It's the same with weight watchers - limit your calories, move your body, cut your portions, and don't eat crap. I will say that 1 out of the 3 friends of mine who are using/have used 21 day fix is making progress. The other two are making beachbody richer with very little to show for it.

Yeah, I have very bony feet, too. I'm glad no one tried to talk me out of my tattoo though. I do love it.

DH & I were just talking about this. We decided that he is an extroverted introverted and I am an introverted extroverted ^_^ He enjoys being a home body and would prefer it to be "just us" most of the time. However, he loves people and does get rejuvenated and energized once he is in their company. On the other hand, I am always up for making an event or party over every.little.thing. because I enjoy having people around. Lots of people. Every now and then, though, I feel like whats-hername...that old Hollywood actress who said, "I vant to be alone."

Mine is on my foot. It hurt, but I've given birth to a "I-was-a-9-pound-baby-but-I-pooped-before-they-weighed-me" little girl. Without drugs. Not even an advil. I figure that makes me invincible in the pain department. Like others have said, tell the artist when you need a break. My buddy Buddy (the guy in kill devil hills who did my tattoo) had great timing. Just when I was ready to say "HOLD, PLEASE!!!", he would stop.