Dumping Grounds!

 I feel like I only come here to bitch, but, well, there it is. lol.. really, it’s just when I have something to say that takes up more than 400 characters and therefore cannot be a Facebook Status. 

Sad. I used to write here ALL the time.

Anyhow.

Things are all… happening. The spring semester started, I’ve got my Math 206 (the final portion of How To Teach Math) and my Education Assessments class. I already have homework assignments for both of them. Ugh. I’m super bummed out that Keely isn’t in my math class this semester, because she was always so good at keeping me motivated and reminding me to do the homework. She IS in my Assessment class, though.. we’re sharing the text books. She has opted to drop her internship and just bow out with an General BA degree in May. She kept retaking her Praxis exams and couldn’t manage to pass them. The poor dear. I passed mine the first time with very little studying, and I feel like they were pretty easy exams, so I’m not sure what to say to her about that.. they weren’t that hard! I sort of feel like if you can’t pass those simple knowledge assessments, you shouldn’t be a teacher :S but I don’t know what she’s going to do with herself now. She said she is hoping to be a TA in the school her mom works in. I wish her luck!

They recently changed the Student Loan/Grant timeline so that your financial aid disbursement doesn’t get sent out or start being processed until the FIRST DAY OF CLASSES, each semester. WTF? seriously? How are people supposed to live like this? I’m glad I don’t have any books to buy this semester, because I wouldn’t be able to! It used to be one week before classes, and even THAT wasn’t enough time. Ridiculous. I’m hoping my money hits my account this week, but I’m not holding my breath. I need to pay the rest of January’s rent and all of February’s rent. I need to replace my laptop, pay for my $115 Praxis II exam, and pay $30 for Kasin’s soccer registration. I also have a bill for something like $60.00 on eBay with the Bill Me Later program, which I used in some sort of emergency. 

Speaking of billing me, and eBay… the kids both have birthdays coming up really soon. I had decided I wanted to just get each kid one big grand present for their birthdays, since they JUST had xmas and all. But i can’t decide what to get Milo, and there’s too many things I want to get Kasin. I was planning to get him a 3DS system and a game or two for it, and call it done. But he really wants this absurdly expensive Lego Ninjago set, and I found it on eBay for $45 (as opposed to $221.) Since he isn’t even ASKING for a 3DS (because he doesn’t think he could ever get one in a million years, not because he doesn’t want one…) I sort of feel like I should get him something he is actually asking for? I don’t know. I might get Julie to go in halvsies with me for the DS or something, I still don’t know.

He also really wants a Ninjago party, so I had to track down people on Etsy who make party garb and I’m scared to see how much it ends up costing. Really scared. He wants his party at Hamme Pool, which Im hoping isn’t terribly expensive. I am planning to have Milo’s at Gymnastics Inc, which is an awesome indoor gym type place. Im going to just order him a pre-packaged Pocoyo Theme Party in a box and make his cake.

I have no idea what to get Milo for his birthday. Probably some Pocoyo books and maybe the big talking plush Pocoyo dolls he doesn’t have. Although he does already have a ton of big talking stuffed animals. I really have no idea.

On the up side, I should be getting about $4,000 for my tax return, and Ross another $2,000. I’m worried Ross will be irresponsible with his… but we’ll see, I suppose… :    We talked about it and he first said he was going to save it, but I can’t imagine him SAVING money, it burns a hole in his pocket, so I suggested he pay forward on rent. once I’m doing my Internship in August, I will have to quit working all together, and paying rent is going to be a huge ordeal. I’m planning to use a portion of my tax refund to pay forward on rent, myself. Then there will be dividends in October to pay rent with, as well. We should qualify for food stamps once I’m done working, and Im hoping that will be enough help to get us through the internship year on just Ross’ income and Julie helping with rent and electric… Ross is going to have to keep up with the internet on his own, which will be important for me with school… it’s going to be tough. I’m not getting anymore loans or grants after this semester, so I have to just keep my fingers crossed that I get enough scholarship money for my internship next year. PRAY. FOR. ME.

Spring Soccer (indoor) session starts on the 25th. UGggghhhhhh. Im excited for Kasin, but Im NOT excited about having to rush around after work and drag Milo with me to soccer games in gymnasiums and get home late and not have time for dinner or homework.. etc. Just. Ugh. Also, Ross makes it even harder on me because he isn’t helpful at all and is super whiny when we aren’t home right away, and it’s just a hassle.

I’m hoping that soccer games are scheduled on the weekends, but we’ll see… he’s moved up to an older group of kids, so there’s a chance that a.) we’ll get later practice times and b.) they will schedule on school nights. UGH, again.

I have to replace my laptop, as it was stomped to death by an unsupervised toddler when I was out with Heather one night and Ross had the kids. I am not amused. It’ll cost about $500 to replace it, and probably $300-$400 to fix it, so… more than 50% for an older model doesn’t seem worth it. Plus it will be out of commission while it’s getting worked on, which also isn’t worth it, because god only knows how long it would take to get it back. It needs a whole new OS boot and a new battery and receptor, as well as a new display. SO. Probably just gunna put ‘er down and get a new little buddy.

I have to complete a 27 page application for my student internship by February 1st. I’m nowhere near done, and I’m having a really hard time with it. I need to get my shit together and start dropping the kids off early and going to the U to work on it there and get advice from my advisor… the stupid application is such a nitpicky pain in the ass that I’m just overwhelmed and horrified that I’m going to mess it up somehow and have it rejected. I’M SCARED!

The whole situation is overwhelming, it’s almost 1am and I’m wide awake fretting about it, instead of sleeping. I was SO tired two hours ago, but that has passed and now the nervous energy is engulfing me. Which is why I keep writing instead of sensibly ending this garbled entry several paragraphs ago. I can’t organize a thought to save my life.

I need to make lists. Lots of lists. This will help me. lol
~me