Happy Halloween

This is always a crazy day at school. We allow the kids to dress up during lunch  hour. Many schools are not able to allow costumes anymore as parent councils will not permit it, so we are 'lucky' that way. The kids are wild already.

We have activities planned for the kids for the afternoon and tonight we will have a dance for the older students.

I didn't buy much for Trick or Treaters as we will only be home for a short period of time. I am home long enough to grab a bite to eat (if I am lucky) then back to the school for the dance. DS1 works tonight and DH and DS2 have scouts so there is a window of maybe an hour where kids will come.

I don't often dress up for these days at school. I just..............I dunno, being a larger person I find that it is harder to find decent costumes without spending $. I also really hate drawing attention to myself.

Our staffroom discussion this morning was around what lunches and snacks will be for the rest of the week. We have requested families limit it to one Halloween item per day but there are always several who send their children with 90% candy/junk for their lunches and snacks the whole week.  Hopefully we can push the healthier option this week. Just better for the kids in so many ways.

Hope you have a great night, no matter how you spend it.

Sunday this ' n that

I see it's been a whole week since I posted. I don't like that feeling. It was as though I couldn't come up for air the whole week. Blech.

So now Sunday is here is the weekend is coming to a close and off I'll go again for another packed week at school.

DS1 is gone for hockey this weekend. We packed him up yest morning and he'll be home by about 10 tonight. DS2 has scouts today. Out for the afternoon in the very fresh outdoors.

It snowed here lightly yesterday morning. Not fluffy and soft but hard little bits. It didn't last but it sure was depressing to see it. I am not ready for winter to come.

We got paid last week. The 'raise' was on there but with all the wonkyness of fall paycheques, it's hard to tell how much really. EI and CPP are maxed out so they were not on there. Annual association fees came off on this cheque so it was different. The raise would represent year two of the contract as the contract actually expired in 2010. I guess in January when the 'normal' cheques begin again with full deductions, I will know better what two years worth of raise will be. maybe.   always fun times :-)

This morning is a morning of fast laundry and cleaning and then it's off to the school for the afternoon to mark, plan, catch up and all those fun things.

Enjoy your Sunday. stay warm

Back to Basics Sunday

It's rather gloomy out today. Heavy clouds threaten rain and there are reports of wet snow sneaking in with the rain. We had the furance on for a bit last night.

It really feels like an at home day. I still have to run to the school for a couple hours to work but that can happen later in the day. I started with home made cinnamon buns this morning. This is my third time making them and while the recipe and results are good, there still needs to be some work on the consistency of shape. There is nothing like the smell of bread dough rising, dappled with the smell of cinnamon.

The laundry machines are whirring away and that always makes me feel more productive. I even ironed a few things :-)

We have lots of tomatoes from the farm that are ready NOW so DH and I will experiment making salsa. I know for many of you, you have been making this since you were 6, but we haven't ever before so it shall be a learning adventure. It won't be very hot or spicy. Our palates are just not there :-)

(update: 16 jars, plus 2 that exploded while being filled)

Enjoy your Sunday.


PS I realized I had forgotten to do a 'where the money stands' this month so I added that this morning and back dated it to October 6th.

Thank you

I wanted to thank everyone for their words of kindness and support. We are grateful to have a nice timeline to be able to figure things out thoughfully. It will be an interesting learning process. Already we learned that when you get the severance package (at the end) that you are not eligible for EI (Employment Insurance) as that is seen as a paycheque. It will be interesting to see how many leave in the next month or so and how many stay on.

At almost 50 for DH, it is a big life changing event. He has been there since the 80s and doesn't really have training for a lot else and that hits home hard for him. Most things he will find won't be a huge drop in salary as he makes not a whole lot more than minimum wage there, after so many years of service. Rather sad commentary on how the company values the 'grunt' employees who make the every day work happen.

I have been doing a lot of proactive "you could do this..... or you could do that...." to allieviate his stress and mood. I think it helped a great deal for him but we shall see after a bit of time has passed and the shock wears off.

This was a large employer for our community and hopefully something else will come along to bring some life back into the area. The premier is on TV (election time) about what a great boom our province is having and what a great future our communities have. Time to put some action behind those words so they feel true for the regular folk.

And big company wins = little folk lose

We learned today DH's company is shutting down our facility. Bye bye employment since 1987. We have a little over a year. A very small severance package if he stays til the end. Time to cone up with a plan B.

It's all in the detail keeping

I tell you, a person really has to be vigilant and knowledgeable as they keep track of their own personal information (financial and otherwise). If you don't look after you, sure as heck no one else is going to.

Story 1 - DH was trying to take care of the insurance portion of his dental work. He'd already filed  (and received some) through his work and wanted to see if any of the balance was covered through mine. We learned that my dental and my health forms go to different places entirely. He got mixed up and mailed denta to the health one. We learned that while they will send you a rejection letter, they will not include any of the documents you mailed to them, even if you offer to send a self addressed stamped envelope....which means that second half of the official receipt is gone. If you want to resubmit correctly, you need to go back to your dentist and ask (and pay) for a second one. I thought I had trained DH to make a photocopy of everything as they sometimes take that, but apparently I need to reteach that lesson. I already have put the correct information with policy plans and mailing addresses for mine on the inside of the cupboard so we have it at our fingertips at home.

Story 2 - Our work contract has finally been settled. I won't argue good, bad or ugly. We found out that for the 3 days we are missed, we are eligible for SOME strike pay from the fund. Not a whole lot. less than the net of one day's work. More than some folk get in these circumstances, but still hard to see such a small percentage come back to mama. Loops and redtape to get that bit back though.  The bigger question becomes, do I buy back the pension for the three days I didn't not work?  The pension buy back will be significantly more than the strike pay, so if I opt for this it would be some out of pocket for the greater good, several years down the road.

What I need to do is phone and figure out the exact date I am elible for retirement. Month and Day. I have worked as a substitute (supply) teacher, and had temporary and part time contracts before I got full time permanent. That exact date is questionable. For many who start out getting a full time job right away they start at the end of August one year, and thirty years later, they are eligible for retirement on June 30th.  If all my wonky math works out that June 30 is my retirement date, I need to buy back those 3 days, or else I would have to work part /all of a whole additional year. If my retirement date falls anywhere else, then it won't matter so much as I'd probably just finish out that year anyways.

So on my to do list for the coming week, I have to call my representatives to get that exact date.

Simple Pleasures

I think I used my time proportionally well yesterday. I think. I had a meeting at 8 AM before school and another at noon. After school I got a text from DH asking if we wanted to have a hotdog roast out at my sister's acreage. He'd been out there all day working on the yard and she was busy taking care of business and packing up for another business trip. Sometimes I think if she isn't forced to eat, she just won't bother.

So off DS2 and I went to the store for a bag of buns and a dozen dogs. It was a cool but lovely fall evening. Along with our nitrate filled roasted deliciousness, we had corn on the cob, the last of her cucumbers, and some tomatoes, all from her garden. It gave her a chance to clean out of her fridge and share company. She is alone now with her kids grown and divorced for about 3 years now.

It was great to sit around the fire and chat for awhile, give her dog some attention and play with the kitties. You could hear the geese flying overhead. DS1 did not join us as he was busy with his team.

Coolness and darkness come eary so it was home just after 6 to less fun things like laundry, dishes, cake baking, homework (and correcting) etc.

A costly reality check

(also titled : Child for Sale)

wanted: a good home for  a teenager with his first girlfriend. He eats a lot and often his brain doesn't work anymore. He's mostly harmless but sometimes you just want to check to see if he is plugged in.

I got the landline phone bill. $40 more than it should be. Ouch!! WTF???  There is a long distance call on his phone, which is under my bill.  One of significant length. 2 hours to be precise. There's never been any charges on his phone so I asked him if he'd made any long distance calls. Nope.

Ok so I phone the phone company and we go over possible theories on how this charge ended up there. The handler was less than polite (but by the end of our chat together, I can't say that I was either). the handler accused me of lying by the end of the call at which point I asked to be transferred to his supervisor. I talk to a new guy and he isn't able to help me. Turns out he wasn't a supervisor. I laughed at that point and said "well I asked to be transferred to a supervisor and I got you. The first guy must have been getting even with you for giving me to you then :-)

At this point of the call, DS1 wanders in and gets an uncomfortable look on his face as he listens to my call.

Long story, short(er), turns out DS did call his girlfriend. She lives here in town but  her phone is listed under her parent's in a different city. She is here for sports for the winter. I tell the phone company I will call back and hang up.

So DS is in trouble for making a $40 long distance call. He was sent immediately to his ATM to get me the money for the phone bill. He is in trouble for being on the phone til 1 AM after he presumably went to bed. His cell phone now comes upstairs at night. For how long? he asks.  Until I am done being ticked at this, says his loving mother.

lord save me from this phase of his life :-)

Never enough time

This isn't a complain. Or a whine. More just a..................frantic and rather unsettling realization I hit each year about this time.

There is never enough time to get done all the things I have to do and many of the things I WANT to do.

I am curled up here at the school with a mountain of marking from h*ll along with prep work and it is absolutely overwhelming. With 29 students at very different levels, there isn't a moment to spare during the day so all the other work has to happen outside of traditional hours.

Compound that with the housework and laundry that needs to be done. DS2 is at home with homework (a ridiculous amount for a long weekend and an assignment I would never give as a teacher) and I HOPE he's working on it. DS1 is up skating with the junior team and excited as heck about it. DH is out with one of my nephews doing the winterizing for the boat and helping him winterize his seadoos.

And it's nice out. I'd like to be out for a walk or a bike ride or a fire at the farm to enjoy the moments of autumn that are quickly fleeing.

And there's a football game on!

I know I do not use my time to it's fullest (does anyone??) but this is something I HAVE to do a better job of.  I need to stream line what I am doing at school to make it the most effective for the students and I. I also need to just get down to business and bite the elephant one chunk at a time.

(and for those who say "hey chickie yer complaining about time and yer blogging".....I typed this in the 2 min my water was boiling to make my tea :-)

Laterssssss

Good ole manual labour

With DS2 gone for the weekend with his scouter buddies, the day begins with the daunting task of manual labour with the promised reward of turkey meal #1.

DH's sister and her husband are gyprocking/sheetrock their 3 car garage and are in need of extra hands. DH and DS1 are already out there and I am just whapping together the chili in the crockpot to take out for a quick noon meal to go with my mom's fresh homemade buns. Those buns are like gold in our family.

The sun is shining today though it's not supposed to get more than 12 C. It has to be better than the gloomy swirly grey clouds and cold weather we have had the past couple days.

Should be a good day of cheap 'entertainment' (read no spend day) and some together time. Wish DS2 were here too though.

I may run out to my sister's place for a bit to play with her kittens. They are starting to warm up to strangers and a half hour with them is nature's own stress relievers.

Have a great day.

Facing the wrong way

This is one of those "if everyone else is doing it wrong and I am doing it right, maybe "I" am the one doing things wrong :-)

For the past 6 weeks, it seems like everytime I go to put gas in my vehicle, everyone is always facing the wrong way. That means I can't slide in behind folks to wait my turn. The first time or two I just thought that it was a busy time at the filling station, but as the weeks went on I realized that if it is happening ALL of the time, it cannot be coincidence.

Then I began examining vehicles more closely.

My tank is on the right side, or passenger side of my vehicle. EVERYONE else I see has theirs on the left, or driver's side.

Just one of those hmmmmm moments of life :-)  so is it just me or do others have their tank on the right???

I have a Pontiac Torrent and I'm a rightie.

What about you?

Where the money stands

as of October 6th

Debts
Mortgage - $32 914.62
Vehicle Loan - $9429.01
Total Debts - $42 343.63

Savings/Planned Spending
Xmas - 2011 - $1200
RRSP - $2675
RESP - $8200

Highlights - We are finally down a 'ten thousand' on the mortgage. We've been at 33 thousand, something since my 'as of June 5th' post. That pesky interest and property taxes  and such make it take awhile.

Savouring the Weather

It has been an unbelievable Fall. The weather has been record hitting highs and just such a pleasure to enjoy. We had one night of frost in early September but beyond that we've been spoiled rotten. As I write this there are dark swirly clouds out there and a very thick rain is coming down.

The weather really gave out that feeling of "get outside as much as you can and enjoy it, as winter is coming!" There were so many people out doing things in their yard, or walking and biking, or taking one more weekend at the cabin before closing it up.

I took my students outside as much as I could this week. As long as they were working productively, we went out. Math was outside. Writing was outside. Phys-Ed was outside.  We did a school wide walk for Terry Fox. It's so fun to see all the different ages interact as we go around our route.

I also did my annual Fall Field trip with my class and we went out to the hills and did some team building activities and then went ziplining. Many have zipped before but for those who haven't, it is a very empowering experience for them. 

And now with October here I am amazed at how fast the first month of school went. Time to get myself to the school and get some work done on this gloomy sunday, before I head off for DS's hockey game.