TWERKs & DDOTs

[k3am]

Why not?

[madringal]

DDOT: I started a new job back in May and I love it so dang much. I went from basically being the head of retail banking to doing mortgages. On paper, a HUGE step back. But in terms of work/life balance and just job satisfaction - a huge step forward. Also, in this market, I am making more than double what I was making before. Even in a not insane market, I can easily match what I was making before. I love my job, and I haven't had this much fun in 20+ years (probably the last time I was in sales vs management).

Also, today is my 16th wedding anniversary! Which means about 16 years since I first started hanging out on TK/TN. That's a long time!

[mae0111]

DD1 took a diagnostic entrance exam for private school last week. The results were... terrible. She does very well academically, but tests terribly. I spoke to the testing center, and they said it doesn't seem like she is getting psyched out... it's just that she hasn't been taught the material because I don't have her in Russian math...

So... on top of private school tuition, I have to get her a math tutor 3 days a week for the next 4 months to teach her the concepts on the test. Because the private school math program sucks apparently.

If she'd just listened to me and applied last year, we wouldn't be doing this. They didn't require any testing last year due to COVID. And they admit more kids to 6th grade than to 7th. So now she has to do all the prep and has a much, much lower shot of actually getting in unless she repeats the 6th grade.

I'm just really discouraged. It's going to be a long 4 months.

[k3am]

DDOT: DD and I got our hair cut by the same person in July. A nice salon that we've been to before, but a new person. I didn't love my cut, but couldn't figure out why.. and then saw my hair after I blow dried it a couple weeks ago and.. it was bad. It wasn't straight. I had one chunk that was at least an inch longer than the rest. And the right side was at least two inches longer than the left in general. I don't know how I didn't notice.
ETA: to prove I’m not exaggerating ibb.co/r4SwwNW. )



My neighbor's sister attempted to fix it.. It's all in a straight line now. But the right side is still about an inch longer. (She also fixed DD's, who will never let anyone but neighbor's sister touch her hair again, I imagine.)

I'm trying to hard to find someone who can sneak me in, but I don't even know where to start. And I also don't want to spend an hour looking at myself in the mirror because that's how great I'm feeling about myself lately.

[supertrooper1]

I received an email from the state bar association yesterday to let me know that ex-H's thief of an attorney resigned in lieu of a hearing. This has the same effect as if they dis-barred her, but she didn't have to present evidence in front of a panel. She is supposed to pay restitution, but who knows how she'll do that if she doesn't have the funds. There were a lot of terms to her resignation and she'll never be able to practice law in any state.

Ex-H's new attorney subpoenaed my government agency HR division and two banks that I have banked at in the past. Apparently he thinks I'm hiding money, which I'm not. But even if I was, the few thousand that I could hide and he would get would be eaten up by attorney fees to do this. I think it's just to drag this on even more and to try to hurt me.

I've had 2 chiropractor appointments so far this week and my chiropractor says only 22 more and I should be fixed up. 22! I guess my neck is severely compounded and he can't believe I don't have lower back pain from the old trauma. I told him I used to wear a gun belt and he said that was probably it.

[mommyatty]

I have to go to weekend meetings for work this weekend, so I feel like my week is never going to end. And since I have zero weekend and have to travel tomorrow, I am not working this afternoon because that gave me time to do stuff like go to the chiropractor and possibly go buy a new bra. So I came in from my office to find my 7 year old, who has been home sick all week, alone in the house and DH is gone. Wtf, dude. We have talked about this. You don’t leave me on kid duty while I’m working without talking to me first.

[shakinros]

So a few questions to my CEO about the VP thing he just dropped into my mid-year review revealed that he has thought none of it through. It even kind of seemed like he didn’t think this change would involve any of my current peers reporting to me instead of him?

Easy come, easy go, I suppose. I’m choosing to take it to mean that he likes my work and wants a reason to pay me more. Happy to help invent another rationale for why I should get a large raise, and especially if it isn’t tied to a fake increase in responsibility.

[sdlaura]

DD tried out for the softball "tournament team" for this fall, which practices more than the rec teams and plays in one tournament a month. She had to move up to 10U this year, and she was not one of the strongest players on her 8U all-star team, so she had resigned herself to not making the tournament team, even though she had been doing some extra lessons this summer. The All-Star coach's daughter is in her class at school this year, and coach's daughter (who is a much stronger player) made the tournament team, so DD was going to have to hear about it all season. I was feeling kind of down about it, since it's hard to have your kid really want to do something/try out for something and not make it.

But then I just got an email from the coach that they decided to pick 3 girls to practice with the team and be on the reserve list in case of absences for tournaments, and DD was one of them. She's going to be so thrilled to get to keep playing with her friends. And this will allow her to practice more and get better. I'm really excited for her reaction when she gets home from school.

[k3am]

So my mom had appointment today. Oldest sister was with her. Doctor says.. mom has vascular dementia. There is no recovering that they know of. So oldest sister has heard it directly from the horse's mouth, so to say, so denial can go back to being a river in Egypt, right??

I also FINALLY had a care worker company call me back. They spoke to one of their caregivers who is interested in the part time role. I gave her additional details, they'll speak to the caregiver, and then get back to me. If they agree, they'd start on Monday. I am crossing every thing possible that this works out.

[polecat8]

First week of school went relatively smooth.
DD is happy to see her friends and loves her classes. In 7th grade, she had to pick a track of study. So she picked the engineering curriculum (which makes this engineering mama proud). In her one class, she gets to design and build. Her first project is to build an ankle brace. I asked her about masking in the school. She is ok with masking and understands that it will keep her family healthy. She says about half of her class is wearing masks.
The only info we can get out of DS1 is that he is doing "fun stuff" at school. Not sure how well he is doing with masking since 7 year olds can't be too reliable.
DS2 is bummed that preschool hasn't started yet (he starts on 9/7). We'll find out next week if the school will mandate masks.

The university that I teach at is mandating masks but not requiring vaccines. Since Covid numbers are high in the area, we have the option of going remote for the first 2 weeks of class. It looks like my students want to be remote, so that is what I'll do. I am actually glad about it because work is quickly becoming so busy that I've been working longer days and weekends to stay ahead.

[librarychica]

Late TWERK for me. I think I mentioned on here a while back that I was interviewing for a job in the Northeast. I decided not to pursue it to the next round. I spent the weekend with my parents and realizing how old my dad is getting makes me want to stay close. So I’ll still be down here bitching about Florida. You have to be from somewhere!

School is going extremely well for the girls. I am so relieved after the cluster of the last few years. The fourth grader has made some friends and seems to be challenged by math and is really into the challenge. This is a first for her. In the past she’s been challenged and just stomped her feet and declared that she’s dumb. I’m glad to see this new maturity. DD2 is bored (she is my more school-excited kid and did this level work two years ago) but is a good sport about it and also has a few friends. Well, all the kids are friends according to her. She’s very social. The county just mandated masks but only one or two kids across both classes was unmasked anyway so I am relieved on that front as well.

I think I finally understand why people give young kids cell phones. We don’t have a land line and DD1’s friends are calling my cell phone most afternoons. They’re very polite. It’s adorable. “Ms DD1’s mom? Is she available for a phone call?” So every evening I walk into the house and announce who called like an answering service and she can call them back so long as she’s done before supper. 😂😂😂

[hocus2]

Aug 27, 2021 8:16:16 GMT -5 librarychica said:

I think I finally understand why people give young kids cell phones. We don’t have a land line and DD1’s friends are calling my cell phone most afternoons. They’re very polite. It’s adorable. “Ms DD1’s mom? Is she available for a phone call?” So every evening I walk into the house and announce who called like an answering service and she can call them back so long as she’s done before supper. 😂😂😂

 You can get an extra cell that is the "home" phone or get a dumb phone which is what my kid has and meets her needs. She leaves it downstairs before bed so it isn't a temptation to use it at night.

[mommyatty]

librarychica- my kids FaceTime with their friends using their iPads. This week when we were keeping our kids physically apart so DD didn’t catch DS’s virus, my kids FaceTimed each other!

[k3am]

Denial is strong. Because it was "just" the primary doctor saying vascular dementia, we should "take it with a grain of salt." She knows that the primary doctor has access to all of the testing and talks to the case manager, who coordinates with the neurologist as well, but she's "holding out hope" and we "shouldn't make any decisions."

[waverly]

k3am, I kind of want to punch her with that whole shouldn't make any decisions crap. So what, just let your mom lie on a random sidewalk for an unknown amount of time is totally fine?

What does other sister think?

[k3am]

waverly, other sister sinks she's being dumb. Middle and I have always been the closest.. we were talking yesterday that this has still managed to bring us even closer together, but that it's pushed the oldest away.

We're moving forward with the in home care, even though it's for limited hours, regardless. The next time I come down, we're going to try to schedule a tour of another assisted living facility (that also has memory care) that we think my mom will like a little better than the first one.. which still hasn't sent us our money back. It is difficult to plan for in home care when they're holding on to the equivalent of 3 months worth of care.

[sdlaura]

Last night was back to school night (small groups/distanced/masked) and it was SO nice to meet the kids' teachers and see their classrooms. I still have never met their teachers from last year in person, and I never saw their classrooms. I didn't request any teachers this year, and I think both kids ended up with good ones for their personalities.

And...just got a call that a kid in DD's class tested positive. Ugh. They don't have the district testing site up and running yet, and the pediatrician only tests symptomatic kids, so it will be some effort to get her tested 3 times as required in the next week. And she can't do aftercare or soccer and there goes our weekend plans. But it could always be worse. At least it's my oldest/easiest to have home a little more kid, and at least she gets to still go to school next week assuming she's negative.

[mustardseed2007]

I just found out DS' BFF who goes to public school is not wearing a mask because "they are dirty" and "I am placing my trust in others to monitor themselves for symptoms" and also they caught covid already (in January).


I think I mentioned on here that she came over with a cold and the kids ended up getting it. So DS was out for the audition vomiting, but then during our one day off they both came down with congestion and coughing and sore throats. 2 more days of virtual learning and another covid test later and they are back to school today.

I'm annoyed. But also, I saw this coming. I mean, masks aren't mandated at their school and most kids aren't wearing them. But with this I don't think we can hang out with her indoors anymore. Not for a while anyway.

[sandandsea]

Aug 27, 2021 9:48:25 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

librarychica- my kids FaceTime with their friends using their iPads. This week when we were keeping our kids physically apart so DD didn’t catch DS’s virus, my kids FaceTimed each other!

This. My boys use FaceTime or kids messenger to talk to friends on their iPads.

[waverly]

I guess these are more updates. Dad says he is getting better. He isn't wrong, but part of the disease is not knowing how impaired he actually is. He said the wrong name for the town he is living in. I think he knows it, but he said Houston. Then he said he was in that assisted living place previously which he wasn't.

I think he can rent a room where they provide meals or stay in a month to month. He does not want to be here in the winter. He thinks he is going back to Columbia, so that's fun. I told him we aren't rescuing him again, and he said he won't need rescue because he won't drink. OK well, it's not that easy for an alcoholic and he is 73, so IDK he thinks he can survive there with no healthcare and needing appointments and crap like that. He says he has friends there but all his friends are 20 year old women that date him for money and are pure trash. Something that his 1 friend there did confirm, so we are not alone in thinking these women are trash. But he thinks they care for him. So basically he would have no healthcare and 1 actual friend. I would rather he go to Florida, but he doesn't have a support network there either, but at least there is a VA hospital. Worst case scenario, we dump him on the VA in Florida I guess. Anyway, he has a VA benefits appointment in October. It was supposed to be this week, but all hell broke lose for my sister, and she can't take him. So basically he thinks he is going back to Columbia in December.  Major eyeroll.  

[186momx]

I switched DD to the online school our district created today. They have no info for in person yet. Even the teachers don't know what is expected other than they don't have distance at school. I've already gotten communication from online school about computer pickup.

DD private lesson instructor covid test is negative so they meet tomorrow!

[vasc]

mae0111 what is Russian math?!

[mae0111]

Aug 27, 2021 15:54:19 GMT -5 vasc said:

mae0111 what is Russian math?!

It’s an intensive program to get kids ahead in math. I thought it was a National thing but it looks like it’s local to me.

[campermom]

I am on day 34 of the 75 Hard Challenge. So far I’ve made it work. It will be harder to manage when I go back to work Monday. I’ve lost 10 lbs, and am now lower than my Pre-Pandemic weight.

I’ve been dating. It’s fun and I’m not putting any pressure for anything.

ExH is being difficult about upcoming children’s appointments. He is mandated to use half his sick time for them. When he tried to get out of paying some child support, he supplied some documents that he unknowingly outed himself by showing me he had 88 paid days stocked away when I deplete mine every year. Now he is going to give “me” (that’s how he phrased it) exactly 52 hours of time since that is half of what he accrues per year.

We will end up on quarantine multiple times again, I’m sure. I am ready to FILE A MOTION just to have a judge ream his ass.

[sandandsea]

Aug 28, 2021 7:35:30 GMT -5 mae0111 said:

Aug 27, 2021 15:54:19 GMT -5 vasc said:

mae0111 what is Russian math?!

It’s an intensive program to get kids ahead in math. I thought it was a National thing but it looks like it’s local to me.

Ds1 has a few friends doing it and we are in CA. At the3rd grader soccer party one of the kids was quizzing others on exponents and square roots (of large numbers) and I was annoyed. . Who needs to know that math at 9!? The Bay Area is so competitive about those things it drives me nuts.

[mae0111]

Aug 28, 2021 9:55:41 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

Aug 28, 2021 7:35:30 GMT -5 mae0111 said:

It’s an intensive program to get kids ahead in math. I thought it was a National thing but it looks like it’s local to me.

Ds1 has a few friends doing it and we are in CA. At the3rd grader soccer party one of the kids was quizzing others on exponents and square roots (of large numbers) and I was annoyed. . Who needs to know that math at 9!? The Bay Area is so competitive about those things it drives me nuts.

Lol I was just coming in to say that I didn’t look close enough and it’s definitely a National thing.

www.russianschool.com/

And re: being super competitive- there are pockets of that around here. People are either pushing pushing pushing (my sister and mom) or are at the total opposite end of the spectrum and feel like the past 18 months of COVID didn’t really cause any academic issues. 🤷‍♀️

[traveltheworld]

Aug 28, 2021 9:56:49 GMT -5 mae0111 said:

Aug 28, 2021 9:55:41 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

Ds1 has a few friends doing it and we are in CA. At the3rd grader soccer party one of the kids was quizzing others on exponents and square roots (of large numbers) and I was annoyed. . Who needs to know that math at 9!? The Bay Area is so competitive about those things it drives me nuts.

Lol I was just coming in to say that I didn’t look close enough and it’s definitely a National thing.

www.russianschool.com/

And re: being super competitive- there are pockets of that around here. People are either pushing pushing pushing (my sister and mom) or are at the total opposite end of the spectrum and feel like the past 18 months of COVID didn’t really cause any academic issues. 🤷‍♀️

Totally unrelated - but you might look into Beast Academy too. We've done both Russian School of Math and Beast rand much prefer the latter.

[mae0111]

Aug 28, 2021 17:35:15 GMT -5 traveltheworld said:

Aug 28, 2021 9:56:49 GMT -5 mae0111 said:

Lol I was just coming in to say that I didn’t look close enough and it’s definitely a National thing.

www.russianschool.com/

And re: being super competitive- there are pockets of that around here. People are either pushing pushing pushing (my sister and mom) or are at the total opposite end of the spectrum and feel like the past 18 months of COVID didn’t really cause any academic issues. 🤷‍♀️

Totally unrelated - but you might look into Beast Academy too. We've done both Russian School of Math and Beast rand much prefer the latter.

Thank you! I was honestly getting pricing for the Russian school for DD2 - she really likes math and gets frustrated because she’s not challenged at school. And she will have to take this entrance exam in a few years. But the time commitment is a killer. This looks better.