I was seriously looking at our local busing routes to see if I could save money paying for a county-wide pass to get to work daily.
The answer is... no.
I can GET to work, but I can't get home.
The last bus picking up anyone from work leaves at 3:12PM. At the earliest, my contract day doesn't end until 3:15.
So - unless the company changes their bus schedule in the fall, I'll still have to fill my tank. Otherwise, the $65/month county-wide bus pass
might have been useful.
Can't say I didn't try...
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Thu, Jun 19, 2008 at
8:45 AM
So - some bank guy says I should put all of our money from our puny Roth IRA CDs into some sort of ROTH investment/money-market/mutual-fund account to MAKE more MONEY...
Susan and I really never thought about "investing" to "make money." It was hard to explain to the poor guy; I don't want to make money. We're just hoping to safely squirrel money away.
I'm sure that the guy knew what he was talking about and that he truly believes that "now is the time to invest." The economy is so sucky, stocks are cheap, therefore the "law of averages" says that everything should be booming just about the time I'd retire.
My problem is that I have a nagging feeling that this time no one is "bouncing back." I'm of the thought that the "law of averages" should also mean that eventually everything falls apart, entirely. I'd rather not have put any money into that basket.
"A bag of gold will buy a loaf of bread," and such.
Update: We'll likely take Susan's Roth CD and roll it all into some sort of investment package. It's small, but we haven't been adding to it for awhile. So - unless we put it somewhere where it can really grow, it'll be worthless anyway. We'll likely keep stockpiling money into mine.
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at
3:28 PM
Ahhhh... no more "limbo." The school-board agenda upcoming where I interviewed shows that they are planning to approve filling "my" position by moving someone "up" from a 5th grade position.
Well, give me a call when she turns in her resignation when she decides she's ready to be a full-time mommy.
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Mon, Jun 16, 2008 at
12:20 AM
This is where I live.
This is where I live.This band is my house...(reference: type "This Band Is Our House" i
n the search window)
AKA Welcome to My World Part 2(Link summaries: School Board ignores input from community. 2nd link, budget cuts include NO NEW TECHNOLOGY...or field trips.)
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Sat, Jun 14, 2008 at
6:40 AM
This story illustrates well how things work (or not) where I work.
Let he who has eyes read and understand.
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at
8:59 PM
At this point, I might need to assume that MY job has been offered to my Nemesis.
So, I shall have to rearrange my hopes.
Here's hoping that one or more of the following scenarios occurs.
Nemesis:
"I can only afford to take this job if you throw in a Hummer made of gold to sweeten the pot."
or...
Nemesis:
"Only had two hits off the joint before I came to sign the papers. Was that wrong?"
or...
Nemesis:
"FBI clearances you say... That could be a bit of a..." (Suddenly disappears in a puff of smoke and flame.)
or...
Nemesis:
"Did I happen to mention my debilitating narcolepsy? HA - you can't back off now! You've already offered the position! What? 'Nothing in writing means nothing was said?' What's that supposed to mean?"
or...
Nemesis:
"For my first inservice lesson, I will need access to chainsaws and Folger's Crystals."
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Thu, May 29, 2008 at
8:27 PM
I had a 2nd interview this past Tuesday. I actually enjoyed the group of people and my time with them; a unique occurrence for an interview. It could've gone better, though, as I felt mildly stumped by some queries. I also nervously plugged my microphone into my headphone jack to start things off...
I'm really hoping that "the other guy" had a worse time at his interview. I'm hoping his went something like this...
Mr. Administrator:
"So how comfortable are you with 'Data Driven instruction...'"
My Nemesis:
(With a crazed, wild-eyed look)
"Data-driven is devil-driven..."
Mr. Administrator:
"Mmmmm...OK.....'"
My Nemesis:
"And by Devil-driven, I mean that Satan is the lord of numbers and he's not just IN the details, he tweaks the 'twos' until they burn my soul..."
Mr. Administrator:
"Mmmmm...OK.....'"
Mr. Administrator:
"So - how would you hold teachers accountable for using the technology you just taught them?"
My Nemesis:
"With a blood-oath, of course...
Mr. Administrator:
"Thank you for coming, we'll let you know next week..."
(Door closes)
Nice Boss-Guy:
"Well, there's a keeper!"
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Thu, May 22, 2008 at
7:12 PM
Wheel of the Water...
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Wed, May 14, 2008 at
7:44 PM
So - I was finally "observed" yesterday (Friday). As per usual, I can't tell you if it was a "good" or "bad" lesson to observe. Every time I think I performed admirably, I find out that I'm missing "key components" of my lesson. You would think that "missing key components" would result in kids not being able to learn a thing. Somehow my kids seem to overcome my "incompetence." I can't stop them from being actually able to read music by the end of 1st grade, able to read/perform simple melodies on xylophones by the end of 2nd grade, sing polyphonic harmony by the end of 3rd grade...etc.
When I think the lesson has gone average or worse, I tend to receive more accolades than demerits.
Admittedly, the most frustrating thing this year has been "the waiting." The longer we get into the school year, the fewer "amazing lessons" I have left to show off. The lesson observed yesterday was exceptionally average.
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Sat, Mar 29, 2008 at
7:53 AM
I get a FRIDAY snow day; nearly the "perfect storm."
The PERFECT storm would have been:
6AM start snowing.
8AM arrive at work.
10AM announce we're going home early.
10:30 start sending secondary students home.
With my current schedule, I would have gone in to work and had "planning time" up until dismissal.
I'll take the nearly Perfect Storm, though.
I'm still looking forward to a HUGE blizzard (without ice; just snow).
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at
6:11 AM
So - I called my boss at 9AM to postpone our concert.
It was posted on our school website by 11:30 AM.
I have yet to see the posting ANYWHERE else and the concert was scheduled for 2PM. It's now 1:35.
I sure hope kids aren't slipping out to the school at this point.
I'm sure that, somehow, this will be my fault.
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Sun, Dec 16, 2007 at
1:21 PM
I get to stay home today. "Ice is coming," so they say.
Of course, there's nothing as of 7AM. We'll see.
So - I'm happy to be home, but...
This means yesterday was my last rehearsal for both my Elementary Chorus and my HS chorus before each upcoming concert.
Potentially, though, Sunday's HS concert could be postponed.
My main
weather source at Millersville is calling for 6+ inches of snow...
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Thu, Dec 13, 2007 at
6:50 AM
Full moon + Thunderstorms + 1 Sleepless Child (Seth) + Early Morning + Early Meeting (cutting in to planning time) = Starting my day tired and underprepared...
I am SO going to be observed today...
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Thu, Sep 27, 2007 at
6:19 AM
So - I just had my first day back to work. I was being updated/trained on the "new" and only accepted lesson planning methodology now accepted as teaching within my School District.
While there are good concepts and ideas for teaching found in this "new" methodology, I feel a bit awkward trying to adapt my "tried and true" methods to fit within it's constraints.
I was wondering, are there other fields of business in which workers are given goals/expectations and then told exactly how to meet them? Are Doctors told to cure illness, but that they may only do it using surgery?
Sadly, the answer is probably, "yes."
Still, I feel like I'm a well-trained jet pilot who has been asked to drive all of my passengers to Arizona in a yellow cab.
I'm sure there's a better way, if only because my training tells me so.
Yet, the folks speaking on behalf of my passengers insist that, "Yellow Cabs have proved to be a consistently successful mode of transportation. Anything else would be a waste of time and resources."
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Tue, Aug 14, 2007 at
7:13 PM
Seriously; have you ever been to a meeting that was more useful than a decet memo or email?
It seems no one else has been, either.
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Sun, Feb 25, 2007 at
6:53 AM
This past week, work was OK. Nothing bad happened, but it really got in the way of being the Daddy I really want to be; the Daddy that is home more hours than not.
+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-
Tuesday night we had auditions for our Middle School musical.
This kept me away from home until just after 8:30.
I missed putting my daughter to bed.
She went to sleep just fine, but when she stirred at about 11PM, she realized Daddy wasn't home when she went to sleep; so she screamed for me. I got her back to sleep, but she repeated this pattern about once every 45 - 65 minutes.
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Wednesday, I went in to work. From those of you who are familiar with my luck with sleep and work, you may have already guessed what happened.
Wednesday was the day my High School Principal "Observed" my class (the annual job-performance review). Everything went OK; it was just a shame she didn't catch me on a GOOD day. She got me on a "neutral" day, at best.
+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-=+-
Today, I had to spend the whole day at a Chorus Festival. It's not a hard task, but I'd rather be home. I would've even left already, but the ONE student I brought does not have parents coming to get him. So - instead of me getting home at 8:30 or 9 PM, I won't be home until 9:45 to 10:15 PM. I'm pretty sure Eve will be asleep by then.
Hopefully we won't repeat Tuesday's deal.
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Sat, Jan 20, 2007 at
7:40 PM
So it seems, they do things differently in Texas.
At least,
when it comes to school violence, they do...
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Sat, Oct 14, 2006 at
7:12 AM
On the same note;
Do you have a
Calling?
Profession?
Career?
Duty?
Job?
or is it just "work?"
I'm leaning towards the bottom 3 rungs.
I certainly don't want to be professional.
How dull.
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Mon, Sep 04, 2006 at
8:22 PM
I don't want to go to work tomorrow.
It's our first day back teaching the kids. I enjoy the kids and the job itself, but not the constant change of required details.
It seems that every year (or 3, maximum), we are asked to do our job differently, files papers differently, and generally jump through hoops in a different fashion to get the same job done. The claim is that the new way is always better and will grant "better success" to our kids. Bullocks.
I'm sure this is the same in any job field.
So what changes have been made
for the better at your job?
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Posted in the section Job Issues on Mon, Sep 04, 2006 at
8:18 PM