Some things I didn't post while I was pregnant...

Tucker turned 35, we partied, and played croquet.

I tried my hand at substitute teaching while pregnant. We can sum it up to "that was a big miss" because I was quickly reminded at how much I hate doing it.

Tucker started painting my toes because I couldn't reach my feet.

Tucker passed his license exam an is now a LCSW (proud wife).

Erin graduated from nursing school.

I called the fire department at 38 weeks pregnant because there was a burning smell downstairs and my neighbor and I couldn't find the culprit. Luckily, a huge crisis (like us homeless) was adverted and it involved a fire truck and 3 firemen at the front door (who found the electrical short with their fancy firemen technology).

Blown Out

I'm not referring to a hair salon term, when you have just gotten a fabulous cut and you're waiting to get your hair blown out to see the results. I'm actually referring to a term that surfer dudes use to describe unsurfable storm induced waves.

I couldn't stand up.

Tucker couldn't stand up....

....but that family decided that it was a good day to fly a kite.

The kite flew....

....but that family's dog made sure to stop by the only people on the beach to let them (us) know that his owners were insane.

We agreed.

Happy Super Moon & first day of Spring. 

A New Dawn, A New Day, A New Blog

Tomorrow I make a decision if I can still stand hearing five letters strung together ....L A U S D. I've been through the ringer in the last three years, trying to start my career as a elementary school teacher, to struggling to keep my career, to getting the boot, to finding happiness in a temporary job as a substitute teacher, to yet another predicament.

The Employment Development Department notified me last week that LAUSD is disputing my unemployment claim. And I quote, "You do know that your previous employer is disputing your claim, right?" Uh, NO! So, tomorrow I have a phone interview/hearing so that I can plea my case to why I deserve to get Unemployment reimbursement.

LAUSD's case is that they are providing me with work as a day to day substitute teacher, therefore I wouldn't need any EDD reimbursement. What kind of (excuse my French) CRAP is that? In May I received another layoff notice (certified mail) notifying me that my long term substitute position won't be extended to the 2010/11 school year. Duh. In addition to the layoff notice, I am on LAUSD's sub list yet haven't had one phone call to substitute this school year. My case is simple, I received a layoff notice and haven't been provided with any day to day work as a sub. period.

If it is that easy tomorrow I will keep my negative view of LAUSD mum for the time being. I've shed too many tears over the last few years because of LAUSD and I realize that I am as meaningless to them as the actual students who occupy their schools. I'm just a stat that they don't want to pay another dime for.

My new life plan is to look for full time work as a full time classroom elementary school teacher while running my own tutoring business. I started this business last school year, I've been on hiatus, but I'm back- in a different city, with no clients, no word of mouth, no pressure. I'm starting with a new blog @ livelearngrowtutoring.blogspot.com that I plan to debut sometime in the next week, I have cute little business cards that I created, and cute community board tear offs to post at local librarys.

Stop by my new elementary education blog. I would be so grateful if you left a comment and/or became a follower. Tomorrow is a new day, a new start to what should have been ended much earlier.

A Greater Power

As adults we have a great power to instill equality, peace, love, and acceptance to future generations.

Pass it on.

Ellen did.

Fire Season, Already?

Last fire season and all the past fire seasons I would watch the devastation that fires had brought to the environment and people's lives on the news. California wildfires have a mind of their own and each year claim thousands of acres of land.

This year the "Station" fire has marked the beginning of fire season in California. Just last night the fire that has been raging for a week nearly doubled in size, in one night. Two brave fireman have lost their lives and due to these talented fireman, prior to last night, no structures were lost.

What makes this year's fire season so prevalent is that wildfires are now our worst fear. We live in a beautiful, lush canyon that hasn't burned in over 20 years. Our landlord spends most of the year clearing his/our land and has a full grey water tank at the top of our hill top. Wildfires are a hush-hush around here, thoughts of them bring negative energy to our humble hippy town. Regardless, people are prepared for the worst possible outcome: a fire knocking at your front door.

While I try to keep the fires in my unconscious I am preparing for a disaster we could face in the future. This morning I called our renter's insurance to increase our liability and I gave our landlord our emergency numbers (sorry dad, now Ralph has your numbers) in case they can't get a hold of us when we are not home or out of town. We are currently accepting any other volunteers that will be here to water down our hill top if those nasty fires come'a knock'n.