He seems to be making real effort. He’s taking me to this placed called The Foundation Room on top of the House of Blues 🤷🏻‍♀️ I deliberately didn’t google it so it’s more of a surprise, only asked him appropriate attire. I plan to wear a dress.

I wasn’t there but xh said the ENT wouldn’t recommend it if it weren’t for the fact that dd has had a few years back to back with a couple cases of strep. She also sounds congested frequently. Breaths through her mouth and they think that will help that. I doubt they guarantee anything.

The babysitting agency sent every reference a form about me. One didn’t complete it yet and I don’t know if they will so I sent the agency an additional reference (someone more tech savvy and very reliable) in case that speeds things up. They already received my drug test results. I had bought a concert ticket months ago for last night’s show. I had to go alone but that’s ok. I mostly knew my way around the area so parking/getting to the venue wasn’t stressful. Requested to have a late shift this morning in case I needed to sleep in more. This show was all ages so maybe one day I’ll take ds to a concert. This is becoming my city more and more.

Apparently the surgery would remove both

Ok I’m actually not sure if it’s tonsils or adenoids they were referring to being removed so I asked for clarification. dd is 9 The kids’ insurance requires you meet the deductible before they cover anything so we are anticipating a high bill. I said I couldn’t pay my share right away (normally when xh sends me a medical receipt I owe my share within 30 days). He said he’d work with me on a payment plan.

Well that’s a bummer she continues to have it

I’m not in contact with the doctors but I think the primary care doctor referred them to the ENT. I can check with xh. my guess is the primary care dr supports whatever the ENT suggested.

I know this has been discussed before. If you’ve had this done for your child, how do you feel now? How long ago was the surgery, results, pain/recovery? An ENT is encouraging us to do this. I know if I told my dad he’d have a fit staying that it’s part of your immune system and not something that should be tampered with. Dd tested positive for strep again. This is happening a couple times a year. She sat out of swim part of the school year because she’s constantly getting sick/issues with ears. I don’t think tubes were recommended. Swim was just a 9 week class. But I would like to take the kids swimming this summer if it wasn’t such an issue. the thoughts on this topic probably change every so often so I wanted a new thread. Xh called asking for my opinion. I told him it doesn’t really matter as he has the final say but perhaps a little time to research before moving forward. Thank you

This guy is established in his career, has some similar interests and has always wanted a family. He knows I don’t want to have any more biological kids, though. Just saying this gives some possibility of a future. He is a welder and showed me some of his work in the city. I thought that was very cool. Although he knows several people and introduced me to some females, I didn’t feel threatened at all. One of the bartenders asked if she knew me (she actually may have waited on me once as I’d been there before). I think he just knows a lot of people (some of whom are attractive ladies).

I don’t know but I’m trying not to say “no way.” I started looking into it at work and saw our copy of the player handbook was missing so requested a replacement lol For me I think I may not be a great fit (I was pitched a DnD scenario and asked how my character would react. I said I probably wouldn’t get involved - witnessing a dispute. But apparently a lot of players would. I don’t know if I’d be any good at the fantasy scenarios as I don’t think I care?) And developing a character sounds like a pain. Learning rules etc. Sounds like homework! But I may just ask to sit in part of a game one night to witness it. I’ve been busy enough lately that I haven’t stressed too much about my social circle. I met a woman at Walmart a few weeks ago and we’re gonna get together soon. A friend from MS was here a few days ago for a concert so we met up for a meal. And pretty soon the kids will be home every other week for summer.

The dj and I don’t even talk or hang out, just say hi in passing. I deleted all my dating apps (again) and deactivated my Facebook to take a break from it all and focus on myself. I’ve been very busy… had family in town, working on several projects at work, interviewed for a third job (as a sitter for an agency) and exercising more regularly. well do you remember mr “I’ll show you around the city” guy? We made loose plans to meet at this monthly goth night recently. I usually can’t go because it falls on an inconvenient night (often I have the kids). It was like say hi if I see you, not “see you at X time.” We missed each other. He left early and I arrived later. He’s a bad texter so I didn’t get feedback til much later. Anyway, I really wanted to explore this goth speak easy I learned about. I got a password card at the Vampire Cafe and the speak easy is on a totally different street. If you go at certain times there’s no cover to get in. None of my friends wanted to go. On a whim, I texted that guy and asked if he’d ever been. He said yes and he’d go with me if I wanted. I took him up on it and we had a great night. He lives in the French quarter and knows the area. We spent hours walking around and popping into places (he insisted on paying for everything. It was some annual pirate pub crawl day so we kept seeing pirates). He knows a lot of local employees and neighborhood people so we said hi to a lot of folks. Met one of his relatives and they confirmed he’s a terrible texter lol then we hung out again the next night with a group and were both kinda relieved as the group narrowed down to just us. We plan to see each other again. It’s just funny how of course when I completely swear off dating we meet. He’s a little nerdy, he’s a dungeon master for a local DnD group. I didn’t know how involved that was. He showed me drawings and storylines affiliated with the game that he made. He turns 50 this week (Sat was his birthday celebration with all of us hanging out). I try to keep my expectations low but I think this does have potential.

I’ve been a squeaky wheel asking for my reimbursement over a year for my last CPST renewal. There were a lot of hoops and it got messy. Today I just got the money. That will offset my initial investment in the sitter program. You get reimbursed for the drug test/background check after 4 jobs.

I had my interview today with the sitter place. Sounds like once I get drug tested/background checked and fill out some paperwork I’ll be in the system and will look for upcoming jobs. The company is not new, but the NOLA location is new. So, job opportunities may not appear immediately. They said you will primarily be needed Fri & Sat evenings. Parents must book us a minimum of 4 hours. The pay is lower than what I saw online (I’m sure that’s reflecting the company’s cut). However, they said it’s common that parents tip. The hourly income varies based on how many children. My references were very prompt and already responded to their emails from the company tonight. One of my references is the owner of the nanny agency I worked for in MS. We plug in our availability week to week for the sitter site. My boss is very prompt on our schedules and I already have my full May schedule (I got ds’ birthday off). My hope is that the weekends I don’t have the kids I can pick up jobs. I never work past 5 on Fri/Sat so hopefully I can find some work. There’s potential to do some weeknight jobs depending on what they need and my hours. A friend is visiting the city this week and we’re going to brunch Friday (I have Fri off). If I have time I’ll knock out the drug test that day. Totally random - we have “Caturday” coming up at work and I’m excited to see the kitties. Kids can see the cats and make toys for the shelter.

Xh said he’d work with me next summer on a revised schedule but he already made vacation plans etc this summer. Some relatives visited tonight. We all ate out. Luckily the place I found online was good.

I think at one point I proposed 2 weeks on/off but I don’t remember if I actually asked xh… at that time dd would have had a fit to be away from her stepbro for more days at a time. These days she comes to my home and says she’s glad to get a break from her brothers (when she’s here alone) lol

dd said her dad pressured her once to answer who she’d rather spend more time with (Mom or Dad). She tried to answer split her time evenly but that wasn’t an option. She said he’s so dramatic and knew he couldn’t handle the answer if she answered “Mom” (although she felt pretty neutral) so she said him. I told her it’s fine and yeah, he’s dramatic lol She said he doesn’t want me asking any questions about him but always asks her questions about me (is she yelling at you?). She said he’s super worried about them being in NOLA and texted her yesterday, “are you safe?” I brushed it off and said it’s ok he’s worried. And that’s why I made us leave before dark (we went to the Riverwalk and experienced a smidge of French Quarter Fest). Dd volunteers this info. I don’t ask. I told her she can tell him she didn’t want to answer certain things but she said she’s tried and he turns the conversation around making her in trouble or something. She’s very bright, I think she’s catching on so early that xh is manipulative. I hope she’s starting to see that he’s controlling too. I’m sure if we were married he would not have approved for me to walk them around the city. I’m learning my bearings and I have some local friends now. I am so much more confident. Plus, I did not exclusively live in small towns. She complained about the walking but we did get some yummy frozen treats.

Kids will be here soon for summer (every other week). End of May.

I’m researching it. I see one job description says minimum of 10 hours a week. I don’t know if I could commit to that. I feel burned out some days already.

The one that would fit the best and has 18 month financing at Best Buy has the auto sensing cycles. I absolutely hate those. So no washer/dryer for me right now. Different financing but same problem with lowes. Someone gave a detailed review and said it never submerges the clothes unless you hit all these buttons to trick it and label it a bulky load then go back to the original cycle function. no thanks I wanted the most narrow because there’s no guarantee they can reconstruct the doorway here which is absolutely too small for the existing unit. We don’t know if it’s a load bearing wall. And that’s just more work for everyone. I’ll think on this longer and for now focus on getting that third (yes, third) job. I’m currently tutoring a couple of times a week online and Tuesday I interview for a place that assigns babysitters to 4 & 5 star hotels while the parents need to attend conferences etc. I wouldn’t get many jobs with my schedule but maybe a couple here and there. I’m also stuck waiting to hear back from the school mentoring program. dd is here eating me out of house and home 😆I’m on day 3 of a migraine/headache but it’s almost gone. I cannot get a weekday off + Saturday so I think the week of ds’ birthday I’ll ask for the actual birthday off and let the kids stay home together that Sat. It’s very important to me I get that one on one time with ds.

My trash can went missing after the storm. I guess I’ll have to request a new one. I looked around the neighborhood but most have numbers and they match their house. I don’t recall mine having a number. I guess I can add one when I get the replacement. After I get my tax return and make more progress on my cc debt, I might consider opening a card specific to a home improvement store for a washer/dryer on Memorial Day weekend if they have a good deal. That might be foolish though. I’m sick of going to the laundromat and now I’m being judged by one of the attendants. Rude! So far that’s the best location I’ve found near me. The other one was so crowded and cramped. He knows my car broke down there once and watched us jump it. He sees me come mostly in the evening and commented I come too late. I told him I came from work and got off at 7 pm. The laundromat closes at 9. Then he said oh I thought you just be sitting around (like he thought I didn’t have a life). I believe 2 items of mine have gone missing. First he said no we don’t have it then asked to see a pic of the items in question only to state again if they had it it would be in that room. I think I accidentally left a sweater there (meant to move to my car to hang dry later) and the skirt I haven’t seen in weeks but liked to wear to work. I’m just over it. I’ll see what the units cost on sale. I did consider moving out end of lease — road floods but I was told it doesn’t. The landlord said that the flooding is new after they did construction on our street. And I moved in under the impression that the unit’s W/D worked. But moving is not worth it. Hassle, deposits etc etc

I was never able to fix issues on the turbo tax site. I deleted one state and tried to start over but it kept pulling a job from my federal form into the wrong state section with no way to delete. I ended up filing with Tax Hawk. My street keeps flooding in severe weather. We closed the library Wednesday for weather, though. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to get to/from work. So much for putting utilities on my new cc. The water department won’t take Discover. Figures lol Still waiting for the first cc statement to see if I’ve earned any rewards. I’ve already made a payment, though.

I think I misheard and the correct word is colposcopy. Oops.

Ok I am just gonna drive down Wed night to see ds that Thursday for his birthday (not til May). He’s still interested in go carts so I plan to take him to this place that does that. They also have laser tag so I’ll suggest that as well. One go cart ride & one laser game won’t take long. They have a roller coaster there… might talk us into that. I went to a wellness visit and had abnormal results. Now they wanna do a colonoscopy. I literally had normal results last year so whatever the case I’m catching this early I guess.

A Family Dollar is closing down so I scored some discounted food & cat food! $1.80/bag for cat food - it’s normally over $7. Yes, I checked the exp dates. If it wasn’t so complicated I’d take ds to the WWII museum on his birthday (he brought it up last visit). We get a 3 hr visit but by the time he got here the museum would be closed. I don’t know if I’d want to bring dd (when I have them both).

At least I can laugh about it… a loose part came all the way off the trunk today. So now we can’t open the trunk. I’m not rushing to get that fixed 🤦🏻‍♀️ We had free passes to the aquarium but spent $20 in parking fees. I stubbed my toes badly today on the trundle bed so I didn’t want to walk further away. I wouldn’t have even gone if I hadn’t reserved the passes and told the kids. But the walking was manageable. Faster than the zoo. And dd loved the sting rays so went back to see them and pet them again. We were gonna check out The Cheesecake Factory but saw the menu and a) expensive and b) I didn’t even see food I wanted. $9.50 under the cheesecake… is that per slice?? Good grief. Ate in the mall food court, much more reasonable and everyone was happy with their food. It’s really been a good visit imo despite all the hiccups. We’ll probably go to a buffet on Easter Sunday. I’ve been charging the heck out of my cc but should get a tax return soon and hardly get these visits with both kids so I’m just going with it. It’s basically a wash… I won’t make any headway on my debt. I have been cooking at home as well but eating out might make the most sense for Easter. Ds can eat to his heart’s content. I want to try the ferry some other time. albino gator in pic