Princess turned 17y on Nov 6th... and again, it hit me; she's only a year away from being a legal adult. We started the week with a shopping trip (she wanted some clothes, shoes, and misc school & bedroom stuff) and lunch at Panera on the 5th. She had a show the afternoon of her birthday (not sure if I mentioned that, along with her SM duties with the school play, she also was running the back and doing tech for a show put on by one of our local theatre groups). While she was gone, though, another stray dog showed up in our backyard. I found the fence down; that must have been how he got in.
He is a lab, fully intact, so I was concerned that he & Elvis would have a scuffle, but no; they just sniffed at each other for a bit, then got some water, and I sent my dogs inside while I calmly coaxed him into the leash I was holding. I went to the Hopkins' home first, but I was pretty sure their lab is black; this one was dark brown. Chatted with them for a bit while their great-granddaughters gave the dog a bunch of treats, then took him to the renters across from me. He does belong to them, so they thanked me, and I left. When Princess got home, we went to Juan Colorado for dinner. When we got home, we had cake (she asked for, and got, chocolate zucchini cake... her favorite right now) and opened gifts (tee from Papa, money/checks, candy, gift cards, a new set of towels, and a few other things).
A few days after her birthday, she got in more volunteer hours for her Yearbook class by helping to run the table during conferences. I've stopped going to those, as she is a great student (solid 3.75 GPA every year, so far), and I feel conferences are for those children/parents who are younger &/or having a hard time. I feel it is a waste of my, and the teachers', time to just have them tell me how awesome she is (I know; we're very lucky). The following day, she, KP, and KVC spent a few hours together at KVC's house. It had been a few months since they'd seen each other, so this was nice. They made cookies, had dinner, giggled, and just hung out. Oh, and Princess finally gave KVC her birthday gift (only seven months late... LMAO!). She bought it before her birthday; just kept forgetting to give it to her!
Anyway, other things going on -- Ace got denied Life Insurance due to his "chronic pain & migraines" (what a load of shit, btw... those are no reason to deny someone!), so we decided to just put a little money each month into an interest-earning account, and when he's employed again, hopefully there will be a company plan he can get (that's what he had at Intel; too bad we couldn't continue that one when he left). He also, due to my impending surgery & recovery, he has decided to delay his job search until after the beginning of the year... unless he decides to go back to school for a couple terms. He's thinking of updating his CAD knowledge by taking some classes at PCC Winter & Spring terms. From a purely financial standpoint, we're fine; he hasn't even touched his unemployment yet and I'm currently bringing in roughly what he was making when we first met.
Speaking of my surgery, for those who weren't aware, I have been diagnosed with Adenomyosis. Because of that, insurance had zero issues covering a hysterectomy for me. This has been a long time coming, and I'm very excited about it. The biggest downside is the three weeks I have to take off work (although, Dr. R said I could go back at two weeks if I feel I'm ready, but to take it slow & easy). After the first few days of pain, discomfort, extreme tiredness, I will probably be bored out of my skull. I am bummed I have to miss Friday Feast at my mother's this year, but (A) T will pick up & bring back Princess, so she doesn't have to miss out, and (B) they promised to bring me leftovers. I promised to make a small batch of fudge (which I'll probably do tomorrow evening) and my famous green bean casserole (not hard to throw together, but if I'm not up to it Thursday night, Princess can make it), as well. I also have some shows saved up on my DVR, a few things on Netflix I want to see, and a list of movies we can rent. I can either download books onto my reader or go to the library (if I'm up for it), as well.
Last but certainly not least, I have a couple of updates on the Wildebeest, et al (oh, I've decide to nickname MG "Gaston"... from Beauty & The Beast, Gaston always struck me as outwardly confident & charismatic/charming, but inwardly lacking confidence about who he really is. I don't know much about KC, yet, though, to give her a nickname, so we'll stick with KC for now). About a month & a half ago, Gaston & KC got engaged. Last week, I found out he FINALLY filed for divorce from Wildebeest. I'm assuming she has yet to be served because she hasn't gone more completely off the deep end of reality than she already was (her birthday post to Gaston was the most pathetic one, yet... but nothing unexpected). The best news, though? Gaston & KC moved into the SAME APARTMENT COMPLEX that he & Wildebeest lived in (twice, with a year in Colorado in-between) many years ago (the house they were renting in Aloha just sold again, too, which is interesting). They've been remodeled, and there is a new bunch of homes in the area, but I find that absolutely hilarious... Looking forward to another update after Thanksgiving.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Life, Revisted
WHEW! I have a few things on my mind these days and it's been months since I blogged so here it goes:
We finished out the summer with a couple more concerts and hiking adventures. We also bought a kayak (or is it a canoe? I can't keep them straight...) and took it out for a maiden voyage along a local part of the Tualatin River. Our garden is doing well; we've removed a lot of the summer blooms, but replanted carrots, radishes, lettuce, arugula, peas, cauliflower, celery, broccoli, and spinach. Those are spring & fall plants, and so far, so good. We haven't been on the bike much, though. We tried to get out a couple times, but life/pain always seems to get in the way.
As mentioned, we did end up getting life insurance (well, mine is active; we're still waiting for approval of Ace's). We are going to be in the market for a new medical insurance plan, however; our Cobra runs out at the end of next month. We've warned the kids, as the older two are still covered by ours, and we've all taken care of everything we need to, with a couple exceptions. Squeeks hasn't fit in her annual Well-Woman check, Princess & I have dentist appts at the end of this month, and I am in the middle of deciding which route to go as far as my "evil baby-making parts" are concerned. Do I try a stronger/long-term hormonal method or do I go completely permanent? There are pros & cons to both; and I'm running out of time to make that decision. I'm hoping the ultrasound will help me lean one way or the other... Ace is supportive no matter which route I go, which will make recovery that much easier on me.
Our older kids are doing well; Squeeks is living with her mother again, paying a small amount of rent, and just working. She has a couple ideas about her future, and is hoping to get into a particular internship either this Fall or in the Spring that will further that end. She went back east a month or so ago for a friend's wedding, and was able to join us for The Lion King performance. GamerBoy started the next series of classes he needs for his planned career. He said one of his classes is a bit difficult, but there *is* tutoring available if he needs it. His roommate situation has changed a bit, but he was able to work out a new arrangement that works for both of them. He's also decided to start working out; UofO has a full gym available to all students at no charge, so he just has to make time.
And then there's Princess. She is taking two IB classes as well as one college prep class, is a member of four clubs (National Honor Society, Drama Club, Gay Straight Alliance, and the newly-created Feminist Club), and has started rehearsals for the first play (as she did last year, she is co-stage managing with her best friend). There is actual homework this year (not hard, just time-consuming), as well; her junior year will probably be the most labor-intensive of her high school years. She's also starting to plan for college -- last Friday, while she was in Ashland with family for their annual trip, she & my mother signed up for an official tour of Southern Oregon University ("Mom, did you know SOU has an ASL program?!??!" Yes, I did.). This week, she is taking the PSAT. And, we'll be signing up for a couple more college tours at some point this year. Who knows what her educational future holds? My job is to give her options and make sure she makes an educated decision as to what/where is the best fit for her.
Wildebeest is *STILL* pining over MG (I think he needs a nickname... I'm going to think on that one). She's still posting pics & status messages about their wedding anniversaries, his birthday, "family" activities (& by that, I mean the younger girls' cheer events that they both attend; using the opportunity to promote the idea that they're still together...hahaha), etc (but also, interestingly, how he's "cheating" on her & "destroying" their kids)... I'm sure there'll be another "Happy Birthday"/love message when he turns 39y next month. Here's something interesting, as well... seems she's not involved in Pass It On anymore. Probably still a consignor; maybe even volunteers to work/run shifts, but she's no longer listed on the website as the Volunteer Coordinator. Wonder if her PIO friends know she hasn't been with MG for almost three years (probably not; she does like to lie about that, and other things). On a related note, even though he probably won't see this, I'd like to wish MG & KC a huge CONGRATULATIONS on their recent engagement! Now all he has to do is take care of that pesky divorce...
We finished out the summer with a couple more concerts and hiking adventures. We also bought a kayak (or is it a canoe? I can't keep them straight...) and took it out for a maiden voyage along a local part of the Tualatin River. Our garden is doing well; we've removed a lot of the summer blooms, but replanted carrots, radishes, lettuce, arugula, peas, cauliflower, celery, broccoli, and spinach. Those are spring & fall plants, and so far, so good. We haven't been on the bike much, though. We tried to get out a couple times, but life/pain always seems to get in the way.
As mentioned, we did end up getting life insurance (well, mine is active; we're still waiting for approval of Ace's). We are going to be in the market for a new medical insurance plan, however; our Cobra runs out at the end of next month. We've warned the kids, as the older two are still covered by ours, and we've all taken care of everything we need to, with a couple exceptions. Squeeks hasn't fit in her annual Well-Woman check, Princess & I have dentist appts at the end of this month, and I am in the middle of deciding which route to go as far as my "evil baby-making parts" are concerned. Do I try a stronger/long-term hormonal method or do I go completely permanent? There are pros & cons to both; and I'm running out of time to make that decision. I'm hoping the ultrasound will help me lean one way or the other... Ace is supportive no matter which route I go, which will make recovery that much easier on me.
Our older kids are doing well; Squeeks is living with her mother again, paying a small amount of rent, and just working. She has a couple ideas about her future, and is hoping to get into a particular internship either this Fall or in the Spring that will further that end. She went back east a month or so ago for a friend's wedding, and was able to join us for The Lion King performance. GamerBoy started the next series of classes he needs for his planned career. He said one of his classes is a bit difficult, but there *is* tutoring available if he needs it. His roommate situation has changed a bit, but he was able to work out a new arrangement that works for both of them. He's also decided to start working out; UofO has a full gym available to all students at no charge, so he just has to make time.
And then there's Princess. She is taking two IB classes as well as one college prep class, is a member of four clubs (National Honor Society, Drama Club, Gay Straight Alliance, and the newly-created Feminist Club), and has started rehearsals for the first play (as she did last year, she is co-stage managing with her best friend). There is actual homework this year (not hard, just time-consuming), as well; her junior year will probably be the most labor-intensive of her high school years. She's also starting to plan for college -- last Friday, while she was in Ashland with family for their annual trip, she & my mother signed up for an official tour of Southern Oregon University ("Mom, did you know SOU has an ASL program?!??!" Yes, I did.). This week, she is taking the PSAT. And, we'll be signing up for a couple more college tours at some point this year. Who knows what her educational future holds? My job is to give her options and make sure she makes an educated decision as to what/where is the best fit for her.
Wildebeest is *STILL* pining over MG (I think he needs a nickname... I'm going to think on that one). She's still posting pics & status messages about their wedding anniversaries, his birthday, "family" activities (& by that, I mean the younger girls' cheer events that they both attend; using the opportunity to promote the idea that they're still together...hahaha), etc (but also, interestingly, how he's "cheating" on her & "destroying" their kids)... I'm sure there'll be another "Happy Birthday"/love message when he turns 39y next month. Here's something interesting, as well... seems she's not involved in Pass It On anymore. Probably still a consignor; maybe even volunteers to work/run shifts, but she's no longer listed on the website as the Volunteer Coordinator. Wonder if her PIO friends know she hasn't been with MG for almost three years (probably not; she does like to lie about that, and other things). On a related note, even though he probably won't see this, I'd like to wish MG & KC a huge CONGRATULATIONS on their recent engagement! Now all he has to do is take care of that pesky divorce...
Monday, August 8, 2016
Summer, So Far...
Summer's been... well, summer-like. I've been working more than normal, Ace is still unemployed (just enjoying being home, cooking, taking care of the garden, and having no employment responsibilities right now), and Princess is hanging out quite a bit (she did end up with an accumulative 3.75 GPA for the year; 6 A's and 2 B's, both semesters). We've decided to hold off on driver's ed (she's just not ready; she will renew her permit in December and we'll continue to offer her the keys as she's comfortable), have taken a few more exploratory drives, went on a couple more hikes, got our Life Insurance figured out (did you know USAA, among others, will send a medical rep to your house to take your blood & urine sample!??! Awesome.), and have had all of Ace's distributions paid out.
Because of time, I am now three and a half episodes behind in my friend's online nail show, and have yet to work on my online class. I'm going to try to get caught up on the show by end of summer, but will wait until Ace finds a job to work on the class. The two older kids are doing well; just working as much as they can right now. Princess did her trip to Ashland and another trip to Utah; both were enjoyable for her, but I think she enjoyed Ashland more. When she got home, she shared stories of how much "adulting" she did there, and is considering adding SOU to her list of possible colleges.
Since she returned from Utah, she's been at home with us a lot, but has also joined me at work (sometimes even working for me doing dusting, reorganizing, etc), hung out with some friends, and had a very productive meeting with her theatre friends & their new teacher. Six of them met up with Ms. S at a local coffee shop and were there for over three hours, discussing their ideas for plays, more student involvement, more community involvement, and more. They have plans to meet again before school starts.
A few weeks ago, I realized her passport expires toward the end of September, so last week, we took all her old paperwork (with her birth name), new paperwork (with her adopted name), adoption/name change court documents, old passport, and a new/adult passport application (at 16y, you're an "adult" in that you can affirm to your own identity without permission from both parents) to the passport office (which, we found, had moved... but not too far). The woman behind the counter (who happened to be the mother of one of Princess's old cheer teammates) was subbing for the guy who usually works there while he was on his lunch break, and she wasn't sure she did it right... Luckily, the guy came back from lunch as she was finishing up, and corrected a couple things. So, now we wait 4-6 weeks (not that we're going anywhere out of the USA any time soon).
Two weeks ago, I was sideswiped on my way into work. Seems the 16yo driving the Volvo that hit me (as well as rear-ended a work van) fell asleep (admitted to us, as well as the Beaverton police officer). This was kind of a cluster this time around; for the first time, USAA told me to go to Kadel's for the "initial estimate" (um, fishy much?), but of course, I can *take* it anywhere to get fixed. After I sent in the two estimates, USAA then distributed a check to me in the amount of the (much lower) Kadel's estimate. I sent my adjuster a message about "why", and never got an answer, so I called and spoke to the other adjuster who had been contributing to my online communication. I then called my shop and told Steve what happened. He asked that I email him the Kadel's estimate, and he would look it over, talk to USAA, and call me back. The next morning, he said that we will start will the Kadel's list and submit supplement requests as they fix more stuff (seems Kadel's missed quite a few things... ugh); no additional funds out of my own pocket. Anyway, I go in to our usual shop tomorrow; car rental will meet me there, as I will need a rental while the shop has my car.
The three of us went to the Washington County Fair to see Gabriel Iglesias (aka: FLUFFY!), and wander the fair. We got some fair food, visited the animals, really enjoyed the concert, and ran into Princess's cousin, N.G.! Hugs, kisses, and a quick catch-up was all we had time for, but it was nice to see him. Next up is The Lion King with Squeeks...
Lastly, I don't want to get into details, but there is an "issue" going on within my family (no, no one cheated, and no, no one's pregnant). Ace, MK, & I are fine; we are strong & will get through this, but for those who are so inclined -- if you wish to send some good vibes, that would be appreciated. For the time being, this does affect how often we're all online, so if you need to reach me quickly, text my cell phone.
Because of time, I am now three and a half episodes behind in my friend's online nail show, and have yet to work on my online class. I'm going to try to get caught up on the show by end of summer, but will wait until Ace finds a job to work on the class. The two older kids are doing well; just working as much as they can right now. Princess did her trip to Ashland and another trip to Utah; both were enjoyable for her, but I think she enjoyed Ashland more. When she got home, she shared stories of how much "adulting" she did there, and is considering adding SOU to her list of possible colleges.
Since she returned from Utah, she's been at home with us a lot, but has also joined me at work (sometimes even working for me doing dusting, reorganizing, etc), hung out with some friends, and had a very productive meeting with her theatre friends & their new teacher. Six of them met up with Ms. S at a local coffee shop and were there for over three hours, discussing their ideas for plays, more student involvement, more community involvement, and more. They have plans to meet again before school starts.
A few weeks ago, I realized her passport expires toward the end of September, so last week, we took all her old paperwork (with her birth name), new paperwork (with her adopted name), adoption/name change court documents, old passport, and a new/adult passport application (at 16y, you're an "adult" in that you can affirm to your own identity without permission from both parents) to the passport office (which, we found, had moved... but not too far). The woman behind the counter (who happened to be the mother of one of Princess's old cheer teammates) was subbing for the guy who usually works there while he was on his lunch break, and she wasn't sure she did it right... Luckily, the guy came back from lunch as she was finishing up, and corrected a couple things. So, now we wait 4-6 weeks (not that we're going anywhere out of the USA any time soon).
Two weeks ago, I was sideswiped on my way into work. Seems the 16yo driving the Volvo that hit me (as well as rear-ended a work van) fell asleep (admitted to us, as well as the Beaverton police officer). This was kind of a cluster this time around; for the first time, USAA told me to go to Kadel's for the "initial estimate" (um, fishy much?), but of course, I can *take* it anywhere to get fixed. After I sent in the two estimates, USAA then distributed a check to me in the amount of the (much lower) Kadel's estimate. I sent my adjuster a message about "why", and never got an answer, so I called and spoke to the other adjuster who had been contributing to my online communication. I then called my shop and told Steve what happened. He asked that I email him the Kadel's estimate, and he would look it over, talk to USAA, and call me back. The next morning, he said that we will start will the Kadel's list and submit supplement requests as they fix more stuff (seems Kadel's missed quite a few things... ugh); no additional funds out of my own pocket. Anyway, I go in to our usual shop tomorrow; car rental will meet me there, as I will need a rental while the shop has my car.
The three of us went to the Washington County Fair to see Gabriel Iglesias (aka: FLUFFY!), and wander the fair. We got some fair food, visited the animals, really enjoyed the concert, and ran into Princess's cousin, N.G.! Hugs, kisses, and a quick catch-up was all we had time for, but it was nice to see him. Next up is The Lion King with Squeeks...
Lastly, I don't want to get into details, but there is an "issue" going on within my family (no, no one cheated, and no, no one's pregnant). Ace, MK, & I are fine; we are strong & will get through this, but for those who are so inclined -- if you wish to send some good vibes, that would be appreciated. For the time being, this does affect how often we're all online, so if you need to reach me quickly, text my cell phone.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Family Update
Ace has now been unemployed for a month and a half. He has yet to have a migraine (although there have been a couple days where it would have taken that turn had he not thwarted it with meds & a nap). He now regularly gets up no later than 7am, no alarm. He has taken a few more webinars and has a phone meeting with his case worker next week. The LinkedIn page and his resume are as tweaked as he can make them (yes, I "red-penned" them, at his request). He still doesn't know what he wants to do, but the antsiness has kicked in (lol), so he's started to look. His child support for Squeeks has been officially terminated and canceled. Our medical has been switched to Cobra. We're still waiting for the last couple of distributions, and he still has to figure out where we want to move the life insurance to (they have a company or we can move it to our own; we'll probably move it to USAA).
As for us as a couple, having him home has been 99% good (the 1% is only because I have to tell him "I'm in class" when I need to get some computering done - I watch a daily webcast about goings on in the nail industry, and I joined an online educational website that is subscription based). We have started hiking together (three so far; two more in the near future are planned... Princess will accompany us on some, as will the dogs), we finished the garden (All three of us are involved, btw; tomatoes have babies, the radishes have been harvested, the herbs have all been used on a regular basis but are now bolting, and everything else is growing well; it's just a waiting game), and he's made dinner almost every night ("earning his keep", he jokingly said). We have also taken a couple of exploratory drives and have found camping, fishing, and scenic areas not too far from home, and not crowded at all. Now, we just have to get back on the bike... stupid rain. :)
GamerBoy passed his second attempt at his Calculus class, and has been accepted into UofO's Business School, starting in the Fall. His original roommate moved out and he found what seem to be a good fit in a young couple. He is no longer at the cleaning service company, but is getting more hours (& enjoying) at a janitorial company instead. He also was granted some financial aid (now based on his own income level), which won't cover all his school expenses, but is a lot better than covering out of his own pocket. Ace has a Father's Day date coming up with him next week.
Squeeks, as I mentioned, is no longer getting child support (per Oregon statutes). She turned 21y a few days ago, and finished her Associate's Degree at MHCC. To celebrate both, her mother took her to Vegas (oh, and her grandparents flew her to their island home a few weeks ago)! She got a second job, online order runner for Fred Meyer, and got a call from an event services company she worked for last summer to ocassionally staff at fairs, concerts, etc. So, until she figures out what career path she wants, these three jobs should keep her fairly busy, and should bulk up her savings account (if she's careful). To assist with that, she moved back in with her mother; Maleficent is only charging her half of what she was paying at her other house, and that includes food, etc.
Princess finishes her sophomore year (this Thurs is their last day) on the Honor Roll again (of course... gotta maintain Honor Roll to stay in the NHS). Currently, without her Finals grades in the system, she is running 6 A's and two B's. One B is 86% and the other is 89%, so she's hoping to bump those up to A's. This year, she co-stage managed four school plays (unfortunately, her beloved drama teacher/director has been offered his old job back and he'll be leaving next month; I hope next year's is just as awesome), and worked for a multitude of outside companies (who were able to rent the H.S.'s auditorium for their own productions) doing backstage assistance (costume changing, makeup assistance, curtain, etc).
She was an active member of NHS (including putting in more volunteer hours than was required) & GSA (both of which will continue through). In a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, she & KP even "got married" at the GSA booth during their end of year carnival. Anyway, regardless of her final grades, she's worked so very hard this year; with my brother's assistance, we are gifting her a tablet of her own. She has some fun summer plans coming quickly, as well. Last weekend, I took her to get her brows redone. This Thursday afternoon, she has a hair redo appointment. Monday, she leaves for a Theatre trip to Ashland. The Sunday after that, she leaves for a humanitarian trip to Utah (and is bringing THREE friends). That's just June...
I tried to get her into the driver's ed program through PCC, but for some unknown reason, they are not offering any this summer, so I am now looking into doing a similar program through a private company. She is not "gung-ho" about driving, so I am not pushing; we only gently nudge as we go somewhere not too far, and are able to stay on local roads for now (no way is she ready for highways yet). Driving is a personal thing, and I'd much rather her be comfortable and earn her hours slowly, than us pushing her too hard, making her get her license, and her ending up in an accident because she wasn't ready. She knows that if she doesn't have her license by the time her permit expires, the renewal is on her, and she's okay with that. And, she started working for me at my salon, doing cleaning, organizing, answering my phone, etc... She will continue to join me at work about once a week, as she is available, and earn herself a little extra spending cash.
**WILDEBEEST UPDATE**
From what I've been told/observed, she is still pining for MG... well... online, publicly, at least. But, she also recently bragged about kicking ass in court, so I find that interesting. You either want to be with him or you don't. At this point, I'm not sure why she'd still want to; some people are just a "glutton for punishment", I suppose. I know he took his girlfriend to Washington to meet more of his family and join in on a new-house celebration weekend. I know K.C. has been wearing a ring on her left ring finger (not real gold/diamond, but still possibly an engagement or promise ring). I know Wildebeest has more than one job, has added volunteering at the Curvy Chic sale (I've already warned my friends to watch out for her this Fall), lives near the Aloha INTEL, and has cut ties with practically ALL the Gonzo clan, claiming that they are not worthy of spending time with her daughters (more honestly, she's just pissed that his family is treating her & KC the same way they treated me & her so many years ago... what comes around goes around, huh, Wildebeest?). I'm actually suprised the divorce isn't done yet... What are you waiting for?!?!? MG, if you're reading this, just do it. You will be happier, KC will be happier, and JG will get over it. Let her play the martyr if she wants; don't let her bring down your happiness.
As for us as a couple, having him home has been 99% good (the 1% is only because I have to tell him "I'm in class" when I need to get some computering done - I watch a daily webcast about goings on in the nail industry, and I joined an online educational website that is subscription based). We have started hiking together (three so far; two more in the near future are planned... Princess will accompany us on some, as will the dogs), we finished the garden (All three of us are involved, btw; tomatoes have babies, the radishes have been harvested, the herbs have all been used on a regular basis but are now bolting, and everything else is growing well; it's just a waiting game), and he's made dinner almost every night ("earning his keep", he jokingly said). We have also taken a couple of exploratory drives and have found camping, fishing, and scenic areas not too far from home, and not crowded at all. Now, we just have to get back on the bike... stupid rain. :)
GamerBoy passed his second attempt at his Calculus class, and has been accepted into UofO's Business School, starting in the Fall. His original roommate moved out and he found what seem to be a good fit in a young couple. He is no longer at the cleaning service company, but is getting more hours (& enjoying) at a janitorial company instead. He also was granted some financial aid (now based on his own income level), which won't cover all his school expenses, but is a lot better than covering out of his own pocket. Ace has a Father's Day date coming up with him next week.
Squeeks, as I mentioned, is no longer getting child support (per Oregon statutes). She turned 21y a few days ago, and finished her Associate's Degree at MHCC. To celebrate both, her mother took her to Vegas (oh, and her grandparents flew her to their island home a few weeks ago)! She got a second job, online order runner for Fred Meyer, and got a call from an event services company she worked for last summer to ocassionally staff at fairs, concerts, etc. So, until she figures out what career path she wants, these three jobs should keep her fairly busy, and should bulk up her savings account (if she's careful). To assist with that, she moved back in with her mother; Maleficent is only charging her half of what she was paying at her other house, and that includes food, etc.
Princess finishes her sophomore year (this Thurs is their last day) on the Honor Roll again (of course... gotta maintain Honor Roll to stay in the NHS). Currently, without her Finals grades in the system, she is running 6 A's and two B's. One B is 86% and the other is 89%, so she's hoping to bump those up to A's. This year, she co-stage managed four school plays (unfortunately, her beloved drama teacher/director has been offered his old job back and he'll be leaving next month; I hope next year's is just as awesome), and worked for a multitude of outside companies (who were able to rent the H.S.'s auditorium for their own productions) doing backstage assistance (costume changing, makeup assistance, curtain, etc).
She was an active member of NHS (including putting in more volunteer hours than was required) & GSA (both of which will continue through). In a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, she & KP even "got married" at the GSA booth during their end of year carnival. Anyway, regardless of her final grades, she's worked so very hard this year; with my brother's assistance, we are gifting her a tablet of her own. She has some fun summer plans coming quickly, as well. Last weekend, I took her to get her brows redone. This Thursday afternoon, she has a hair redo appointment. Monday, she leaves for a Theatre trip to Ashland. The Sunday after that, she leaves for a humanitarian trip to Utah (and is bringing THREE friends). That's just June...
I tried to get her into the driver's ed program through PCC, but for some unknown reason, they are not offering any this summer, so I am now looking into doing a similar program through a private company. She is not "gung-ho" about driving, so I am not pushing; we only gently nudge as we go somewhere not too far, and are able to stay on local roads for now (no way is she ready for highways yet). Driving is a personal thing, and I'd much rather her be comfortable and earn her hours slowly, than us pushing her too hard, making her get her license, and her ending up in an accident because she wasn't ready. She knows that if she doesn't have her license by the time her permit expires, the renewal is on her, and she's okay with that. And, she started working for me at my salon, doing cleaning, organizing, answering my phone, etc... She will continue to join me at work about once a week, as she is available, and earn herself a little extra spending cash.
**WILDEBEEST UPDATE**
From what I've been told/observed, she is still pining for MG... well... online, publicly, at least. But, she also recently bragged about kicking ass in court, so I find that interesting. You either want to be with him or you don't. At this point, I'm not sure why she'd still want to; some people are just a "glutton for punishment", I suppose. I know he took his girlfriend to Washington to meet more of his family and join in on a new-house celebration weekend. I know K.C. has been wearing a ring on her left ring finger (not real gold/diamond, but still possibly an engagement or promise ring). I know Wildebeest has more than one job, has added volunteering at the Curvy Chic sale (I've already warned my friends to watch out for her this Fall), lives near the Aloha INTEL, and has cut ties with practically ALL the Gonzo clan, claiming that they are not worthy of spending time with her daughters (more honestly, she's just pissed that his family is treating her & KC the same way they treated me & her so many years ago... what comes around goes around, huh, Wildebeest?). I'm actually suprised the divorce isn't done yet... What are you waiting for?!?!? MG, if you're reading this, just do it. You will be happier, KC will be happier, and JG will get over it. Let her play the martyr if she wants; don't let her bring down your happiness.
Friday, May 13, 2016
My New Guns...
Two weeks ago, after 23 years with the company, Ace was one of almost 1000 people who left Intel. To clarify, he did NOT get fired; he took what they call a Separation Package (had he been fired, there would have been no compensation). This package includes keeping his company cell phone (they terminated the contract a week later, but we can wipe it & sell it or use it ourselves), a choice of COBRA coverage, a lump sum (a large chunk of weeks, base salary) of his pay, job search assistance, and more. He is eligible for unemployment. His sick & vacation days will also be cashed out and he will be able to transfer our life insurance policies and his 401K. Of course, we also have been smart with our own money; we have no outstanding debts, no mortgage, etc... and have roughly 18 months worth of living expenses in a savings account (not counting my new car fund, which we're still planning on buying... some time this Fall, I think).
When he got home, he floundered a bit; not knowing what to do with himself. After I made us lunch, though, he goes, "Let's get some work done," and proceeded to make a lot of sawdust (in case you missed that post, we've been building a nice raised garden bed for vegetables). The photo of sawdust I took was posted on his Facebook page with, "How I spent my first day no longer working for Intel." Since then, he's worked on his LinkedIn page, his resume, and has had two meetings with the job search people. He has four webinars he's signed up for for next week, as well. While he's not sure what he wants to do, yet, we are financially able for him to take some time to figure it out.
He's been sleeping better, hasn't had a migraine, and is in a good mood all the time. Since he left Intel, we've also done something with the garden bed every day. He is down two pants sizes and his upper arms are super-defined. I am more defined all over and can actually see results in my own upper arms as well. As of today, the box is 1/3 full of the soil mix. Ace's plan while I'm at work is to get more of it from the pile in the front yard to the box in the back. Since he's sore from yesterday's work (we all are), he may or may not get it done. If needed, once it cools off this evening, I'll go out & work, as well. Once it's done, we'll be ready for plant starters!
When he got home, he floundered a bit; not knowing what to do with himself. After I made us lunch, though, he goes, "Let's get some work done," and proceeded to make a lot of sawdust (in case you missed that post, we've been building a nice raised garden bed for vegetables). The photo of sawdust I took was posted on his Facebook page with, "How I spent my first day no longer working for Intel." Since then, he's worked on his LinkedIn page, his resume, and has had two meetings with the job search people. He has four webinars he's signed up for for next week, as well. While he's not sure what he wants to do, yet, we are financially able for him to take some time to figure it out.
He's been sleeping better, hasn't had a migraine, and is in a good mood all the time. Since he left Intel, we've also done something with the garden bed every day. He is down two pants sizes and his upper arms are super-defined. I am more defined all over and can actually see results in my own upper arms as well. As of today, the box is 1/3 full of the soil mix. Ace's plan while I'm at work is to get more of it from the pile in the front yard to the box in the back. Since he's sore from yesterday's work (we all are), he may or may not get it done. If needed, once it cools off this evening, I'll go out & work, as well. Once it's done, we'll be ready for plant starters!
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