Slowly plugging away at this RBT certification course (I had stopped working on it weeks ago thinking it wasn't going to be applicable). Just applied to another RBT job. The pay isn't great, but it's full-time and the work takes place in the center (whereas the other job requires you to drive to homes). If I could get them to pay me on the upper end of the scale (what I was making prior to being laid off, which still isn't a ton), I could at least afford a 1 bedroom apartment. I used my resume version that lists the nanny agency job as an active job (since they didn't ever officially remove me from the agency). I mixed up dates and I cannot attend the Day of the Dead parade that my bf invited me to with his kids (he ran the idea of me coming by the kids first). I'll have dd that day and I'm sure xh would hit the roof if I took her to New Orleans on a school night lol. We have to inform each other any time we leave the state with a child. Plus there's not enough room in the car for everyone. I know dd wanted to do something with me this week (she suggested making sugar skulls) so I'm going to see if I can dig up my baking supplies from my dad's house including my skull cookie cutter. If I can get everything together I'll let dd and her friend (that lives here) decorate the cookies on Thurs after school. I'm sure the 4yr old will want to join in as well. A few days ago I went ahead and renewed my MS driver's license so regardless of whether I move, I have a current one. I just used my dad's address. Money is really tight so I paid xh a partial amount for Oct child support. I am not worried, I will pay him the rest in Nov. He won't actually do anything. I've been late in the past before (by accident) and nothing came of it. I just paid extra the next month. My back injury is mostly healed, but I did need to take it easy this week in some areas. I got my bf to lift my exercise bike so we could haul it to the storage unit. And I wasn't able to comfortably do the rowing machine, but I have returned to the gym. My 24hr gym is 7 min from my gf's house. I'm trying not to be a big burden on their utilities so I showered at the gym the other night and I've been doing my laundry at the laundromat.

Oh and experience with ASD children is preferred but not required. I’m currently living in a home with a child that is on the spectrum.

I applied to 4 RBT positions. One company posted 3 different jobs (different locations). It was misleading if they were PT or FT. I was offered a link to an interview and responded that I was seeking FT. They never responded. So today I said screw it, just book the interview. What’s the worst that happens?? They can’t offer FT. Maybe they start PT and it becomes FT? The online interview is Nov 2. I figure I have nothing to lose.

I saved $100 by moving out today. I got the majority of stuff out of the old room. Going back tonight to get the cat.

And… I have a boyfriend now 🫠 finally, someone that is good with communication, boundaries etc. Our kids are in the same school district. I’ve met his kids just from running into them at the grocery store and YMCA. Just hope my future job/home doesn’t screw this up. Sigh.

So I’m mentally preparing myself that I may not have time to be interviewed anywhere better etc. BUT one day at a time. My gf said I can start moving my stuff in tomorrow. Any days I shave off from this month will help with my final Oct rental check. If you have links to sleeping idea items feel free to share. I went to the YMCA for this final day of swim thing dd’s class was having. They referred to it as a graduation but I didn't see the connection. She’s not swimming due to off/on sickness + recent ear infection so I sat with her the whole session. She was like I forgot to tell you parents were invited. I said I knew, I got the email 🙂 Man these 1 bedrooms aren’t cheap either (NOLA & locally) but I’ll find something.

I won’t turn down the job unless I can figure out a way to afford my own place in the near future with another job. I’ll be staying low to no-rent at my girlfriend’s home soon to save up for a deposit/first month’s rent/utilities. But I wouldn’t stay there indefinitely. I might be able to afford a 1 bedroom locally. I need to crunch numbers.

I have mostly relied on Zillow. That’s how I found the ones I visited. But for now I guess I’ll see if there’s any chance of a closer job before I tour anything else.

Lawyer said from a custody standpoint I can’t get in trouble for the smaller home. Only potential issues are if a city/state has housing ordinances or something. So I’m not gonna worry.

13 weeks of unemployment left The RBT job said full time on one page but PT on the other. Ugh. I left them a voicemail.

I forgot to answer - my unemployment benefits max out at $6110. Mathematically it appears to be 26 weeks. I just applied to another RBT job. Although working with kids full time isn’t my first choice, I would do it to stay closer.

The cats are a stress to contain. I left the house and came back to this. I’ve examined both cats and can’t find wounds. The dumbbells weren’t strong enough to keep the door snake in place. I’ll need to do something else.

I tried Tom’s years ago but it never felt like it worked. I didn’t feel fresh

I’ve tried several aluminum-free ones over the years but they never made me feel clean. And one gave me a terrible rash. I’ve tried Tom’s, Lume, Schmidt’s, Native.

Right! I guess it just happens. my landlords left town for a wedding and left the thermostat on “off” but I’ve been running the a/c. I’m always hot.

Oh yeah I did try white vinegar,too. I can’t remember if I tried dawn. I’ll try the salt mix. And try the Dawn. I don’t ever wash with bleach so I’m assuming it’s just old residue built up. But I didn’t notice how bad the stains were til recently and I don’t want to toss all these shirts.

I have several black t-shirts that have accumulated deodorant residue on the armpits, visible from the outside of the shirt. Is it too late (they’ve been laundered many times) to fix this?? Although I primarily wear clear deodorant, this residue causes these white stains. I’ve already tried a baking soda/water paste with toothbrush scrub. Hydrogen peroxide/water mix Rubbing alcohol do I need to use a wire brush or something? Any other ideas??

Yes I am definitely open to solutions like these 🙂

Yeah, a good pull out bed would definitely be more affordable than a larger apartment. I’ll look around. My current couch folds into a bed but it sucks! Too uncomfortable. I do already own 3 beds but unless there’s a huge living room in a 1 BD, there’s no where to put it. I know ds likes privacy too… so living room is not ideal. But I’ll weigh all my options.

I don’t want to require anyone to sleep on an air mattress/couch 50% of the summer 😕

I will double check but at one point 2 different Mississippi lawyers told me that they couldn’t share (based on gender) and I thought they each required a room… I’ll ask to see if I mis-remembered it and if the rule was just bed. However, I think it was room because I remember discussing with my lawyer that xh wasn’t supposed to be able to label the mudroom as a bedroom. Xh put his stepson in there though, so it didn’t affect our kids. Loophole lol They are no longer in that home and currently the 2 boys share a room.

Just my luck 😩😅😂 so my guy friend from the Halloween/live gig thing and I really like each other. He said he’s willing to try to make it work even if I move. I know that may or may not be realistic but one day at a time. Dammit, universe 🤣

My dad’s house and the room rental both appear to be the same distance to NOLA. Which is roughly 1.5 hrs each way. My gf’s home to NOLA shaves off 17 min.

If they charge rent it will be minimal. I’m gonna contribute with cleaning and child care. She’s out of town and will get the guest room ready for me this week.

I was contemplating the one bedrooms tonight actually. The thing is will it trip me up from hosting my kids… in court xh tried to force all visits to take place at my dad’s. I don’t want to give up my power to host kids at my own home. Host isn’t the right word but you know what I mean. Legally each child needs a bedroom. So the plan was dd sleeps in my room & ds sleeps in the other over holiday visits and their summer visits. I don’t know if I’ll be denied having them over if I have a one bedroom. 🤔☹️