Nope nope nope lol. Not for me. I love toddlers especially, but I could NOT start all over again. It was already basically starting over when Iz was born, since the other kids were in school already. And I'd be basically a million years old when they graduated.. no thank you.

Plus, I already don't want to sit on the floor and play much anymore :P

AND. ESPECIALLY. I don't want another teenager. Knowing Iz has to do that is bad enough :P Teenagers? Not. Fun. The worst.

Even though like.. they CAN be fun and I'm starting to enjoy them more, they're also without a doubt THE WORST.

ROFL . Honestly I agree with all you said. That being said, I still WOULD take another child if it happened. Just as I'd totally take in my niece/nephews if needed. Or a grandchild. Thoo...I do already sit on the floor and play a lot still LOL So that doesn't bother me. But yes. Being older mom. Mm. Not so much fun as being a younger mom I think. Dealing with teenagers again? ugh. Already had enough of that for a lifetime. But yes, at the same time, I'd totally do it again. Hahah yea, I agree, once the other kids are potty trained and then especially if they are in school, and you have a newborn, you started over. I started over with Nathan, Katie was in PreK the year he was born. Shane was in 2nd grade.

Oh! The other contractor is coming out to check things and see if he can do the job and give me an estimate. STILL have not heard from the original one since that day I talked to them (people in the office) back in OCTOBER!! So I have no qualms getting someone else out to look and see at this point. I only have like 2months left to fix it so the insurance pays AND there is two more holidays in the mix (Christmas and New Years) so ... yea. It needs to be done.

[edit] WOW. Ok I had to have been tired (its now 605am) I laid on the couch around 7 something and fell asleep. Got up around 830-845 and said forget it, if I am that tired (because I felt like I was about to fall asleep again) I'll go lay in bed. I fell asleep in bed after just a little bit and I didn't wake up until 545!!! :o Normally if I fall asleep early I am up at 3 or 4 and struggle to go back to sleep. To be honest. I still feel tired. I hope I am not getting sick.

Oh no! Maybe you slept TOO much? But sometimes I think we just need a lot of sleep.

eeeks, yeah, two months is going to be cutting it close, hopefully you can find someone good to take care of it!

Well this guy that came out, 1. Said he'd do it for whatever amount the other contractor had agreed upon with the insurance adjuster and I had to tell him I didn't know the amount because No one ever got back to me on the list of repairs approved. (because I have the original estimate for patching, but not replacing the whole side) So I emailed the insurance adjuster, waiting on a response. and 2. This guy penciled in 2 weeks in Dec for my house, said it should only take a week or less, but penciled in for "in case of rain" and plans to have it done before Christmas.

I dunno> I NEVER sleep that much. So I think I NEEDED it. I slept really badly Sunday night and Monday was only a little better and was up early Tuesday morning. SO I think I was just tired.

Oh and I got Katie and Wesley D&D shirts and I hope they like them - I did send Katie a pic of them because I thought it was cute and when she laughed and thought it was cute too, I decided to order because I have no clue what else to get them. The shirts are $25 each. Sheeeesh I hate spending taht much on a tshirt. But like I said, I dunno what to get them anymore. I got Katie a Bard one, and Wesley an Artificer. I don't know if thats the characters they play as, but those suit THEIR personalities :P Katie is always singing, and Wesley is doing tech stuff LOL

Awww YAY for this contractor then! That's great!

Yeah, I haven't been sleeping super great lately, I'm waking up in the middle of the night over a silly little sound and then I'm too hot to go back to sleep :/

Ugh yea I hate when I get hot at night. Because as soon as I throw off the blanket to cool down, then I'm too COLD!!! I'm usually freezing when I go to bed, so I have my comforter PLUS a fuzzy blanket (sherpa type) on top of that. So I'll throw off the fuzzy blanket and then get cold and not feel comfortable because I'm used to the extra weight too. I'm so seriously thinking about a weighted blanket....

(I really expected some sort of comment for the D&D shirts since you play, don't you? I thought I remembered you saying you did) LOL

[Edit] Thursday 830pm So. Class tonight was fun and not fun? :P lol we had to do improv, put on a play and play some weird games. Then we talked about the cultural project that is due next week and I WISH she'd told us about it before break because I could have spent all this time working on it, now I only have a week ... thanks. I can do it, but I'll feel rushed. I have to pick a culture (I picked Native American), find a book about it, do an art project based on something from it, make up a song to explain about it, and find a video showing traditional dance/movement for it. And put all that into a power point. I think I kind of have the song down - I wish I could make a bowl....from like reeds or something, weaving. I did it once a LONG time ago as a child in a library LOL But I don't want to buy anything for this....so I dunno. I don't have tan felt, so I can't even make buckskin clothing :P The only thing she said was not to make war dress, because that can be offensive...I'd figured basic clothing would be easier anyway.

OH! I just realized....LUMINAIRE TOMORROW!!!!

[edit] Friday 4pm You've got to be freaking KIDDING ME!!!! So today I decided to call the insurance adjuster, since he didn't yet reply to the email I sent late Tuesday afternoon. (more than 48hrs, figured it was time). Someone else answers the phone. This person took over for the other, as the other has left the company. Ok. Can he help? No apparently not. Get a # to call the main people, gives me a name to talk to. I get someone else. Explain what I need/who I need. They are confused? They call the guy I just talked to, while I am on hold. Figure out who I need. Call them while I am on hold. Get his voicemail. Come back to me. Transfer ME to his voicemail so I can leave a message. Fine ok. I do that. He calls back. I explain (AGAIN) the situation, ask for the UPDATED paperwork for repairs. He sends me the ORIGINAL ESTIMATE papers that I already have printed at home!!! WHAT? So I looked again to double check, then sent him an email stating that is the ORIGINAL ESTIMATE and I need the UPDATED information that was AGREED upon between contractor and adjuster. Then I look at the last email from the old adjuster (which btw is in freaking APRIL!!) and he says "I will get that updated and sent to contractor" - SO now my question is DID IT EVEN EVER GET UPDATED/APPROVED????? IS this why the contractor won't talk to me? Because he promised something and never got approval for it?? ARRRGGGGHHH SO I sent (Forwarded) THAT email to the new guy. Waiting to see what he says. sigh

edit - 410pm So he says have the new contractor write up a repair estimate and send it in to get approved. Apparently the OLD contractor NEVER SENT IN A BID for the siding/windows!!!

[edit] again :P (Dec 3 830am) Where did everyone (ok, where did ) go ?? :P Actually I know Mieke's been busy lol I just finished "weaving" a basket for my creative arts class. Using pipe cleaners. Oh boy. It didn't turn out TOO bad, I don't think. I used WAY more pipe cleaners than I thought I would, and its a SMALL basket! I've also finished a lot of my school work. I have one class to do 3 assignments in today, they aren't due til Wed night. I emailed two teachers several questions - one about a paper I have written, but need to turn in but wanted to make sure if I had to add something or not. The other because he put the same due date for the final exam as he did for the last module of work, which makes no sense to me, as there is over a week left in the semester, so why is it due over a week before the semester ends? Giving no time to study to for it, when if it was due the week after (as I expected it would be) there would be time to complete the assignments due and THEN to study and take the exam. The other class still has one more module to complete (but its a squished 8week course so...) Anyway.

Ha, as I was reading it, I was going to say you should have paper weaved! I'm sure you had cardstock or construction paper. :(

And yes, I WAS busy haha. Spent 22 hours at the Christmas market from Friday to today, I'm tired :P

And ughhhh to that insurance company, in general!

No, not at home I don't have card stock or construction paper. I used to have construction paper but I took it all to school last year LOL I'm not sure it would have been any better with paper tho?

I'm more annoyed at the CONTRACTOR!! He LIED TO ME! Flat out lied, because if the last note from the insurance adjuster said "waiting on a bid for siding and windows" and they never put IN A BID!! AND then TOLD ME in SUMMER !!!! That I was the 3rd or 4th house on their list ??? LIE!! Not on the list at ALL if you didn't put in a bid!!! I am a little annoyed at the insurance company, like, WHY didn't they send an email or phone call to say my adjuster changed? So I'd know who to contact if I had questions. I mean honestly.

Oooh okay yeah, I'd be super annoyed at both, then! I guess I didn't fully understand. Like.. geeze, YOU are doing your best! Why isn't everyone else?!

IDK, paperweaving is a whole thing. But I'm sure it looks cool with the pipe cleaners!

It looks a little like a birds nest lol But its all good.

My contractor sent me a proposal this morning, I forwarded it to the insurance, they accepted it, and are now sending me some funds (they did that before, sent me part of the $ and then give the rest when I give a final invoice after the work is done)

I sent in my application for the BFTS/DECAL scholarship (PreK thing) so I hope it gets accepted. I "owe" not quite $3,000 for spring semester and if I get that scholarship (in full and I think I will but I don't know for sure) it'll drop to me owing about $700. I'm trying to figure out what I need to do for student loans tho, like, what if I DON'T get the scholarship? What if I get it but not until after the $ is due? How much student loan should I get? Will i be in trouble if I take the 3k in student loans and THEN get the scholarship?? Ugh. Going to talk to financial aid on the 14th at new student orientation (only reason I'm going again is to talk to financial aid lol - they are not normally at my local campus)

Hello lovely people! I hope you are all doing ok? I am deep in writing my thesis and practically forgotten by anyone who knows me! It's due on 2nd Jan but I'm trying to get in done before Christmas. I'm tired and emotional (haha, keep crying at anything!) but I know it is nearly done! I can't believe how hard the last 2 years have been but I'm nearly at the end!!! :D I think of you all when I'm playing subeta but just don't really have the time to check in. Hope you are enjoying lumi! I hope that I have a bit of time to enjoy it on here too! I love playing the secret santa games and I'd love to do MM but it doesn't seem like it will be back yet. Lots of love and warm and fuzzy holiday feelings <3 xxx

Kat, I know we already talked about the other stuff but YAYYYYYY that's so great! The college stuff though.. ugh, it's so confusing! El said they didn't want student loans, they kept pushing them though, she did NOT end up getting them because she didn't finish the class you have to take before you get them but like.. they're still on her financial aid package... which would have just.. added the money to her school account, because she already had more than enough? I don't know, I'm still SO confused by the entire thing! Hopefully financial aid can help you!

Oh my gosh, you're so close to being done! Can you believe it or does it just seem unreal right now that you're DEEEEEEEEEP in the trenches?!

Tonight is Isabelles first band concert and she's super excited! She came with us to the marching band banquet last night and the band director came up and talked to her (he's the same director for both schools) and Lily introduced her to the marching band percussion leader. Who made her cry with his speech, btw. AND she got voted outstanding percussionist, which was very exciting for her :P

Hi Cazzie!! So glad to hear you are almost done! You got this girl!! <3

Mieke - I was really stressed about student loans when I first started because I didn't want to get into debt with them. But I've been extremely grateful that so far PELL has paid for just about everything I needed for tuition (thank goodness for technical colleges!) so I only paid for some books out of pocket and a tiny bit of tuition. Actually, when I added it all up, with the $ they gave me back THIS semester, and the covid funds they gave me, they actually paid ME over 1k to go to college with them LOL But I know at the new school it will cost more. Luckily its only going to be 2 1/2 yrs there and MOST of it will be covered by PELL and (if I get it) the DECAL scholarship. But what made me relax the most about student loans was finding out from someone in the boys youth group that I can get a grant that will pay off 80% of my student loans if I work for 5yrs as a teacher in a title 1 school - which is any school in my county. So there is that. its just figuring out how much of them I need, how they work, make sure I don't do something I'm not supposed to, etc. :) Got a week until I do the orientation and can ask (well a bit more than a week, its next Thursday)

I saw your post of facebook of what Iz said about Lily and percussion lol I loved it <3 I'm glad they're both enjoying band so much

I'm a little confused on the due date for my final exam in my one class...he has it as due tomorrow in the classroom, but in the calendar I printed off at the beginning, its supposed to be due next wednesday? I sent him an email to verify the date and he did not reply to that...although he DID reply the the email I sent 5minutes later asking about the length requirement for one of the assignments....eye roll Guess I'll just do the exam tonight or tomorrow night and be done with the class a week early. Not like I can't just do that anyway since its open.

I REALLY need to practice my "interview" questions. I did finally get answers written down for all of them .. thats due next Wed too. and is the last thing for that class.

And the teacher opened the next module early (last one) so we can get started on it if we want to. So yay. I'll be working on some of that later this week and finish it up this weekend like normal, but there is like 5 assignments instead of the normal 3...so its a bit more. Plus one more paper. ARGH I don't like papers LOL Lucky its not a hard one (like poor Caz!), just annoying to have to do.

You found a fairy while making a post! Oh well go me! Anyone need fairies? I don't....

[edit] 12/6 @ 7pm

Did my final exam. Got 42/50 points. Thats still good. A what, B? 80something? I dunno. I tried to convert it and lost my mind. I'm tired. HALF the questions did not match ANYTHING I'd read again. Ugh. Only FOUR of them were in previous quizzes so that wasn't helpful either. I googled the answers (:P) and STILL got 4 wrong? HOW? I guess the answers given by the sites I looked at were wrong. Whatever.

ANYWAY! DONE with that class. Still got an A I'm sure. He has to grade 2 more papers I think but for all but that ONE assignment I've gotten full credit, so I'm sure I'll do fine on those two.

I don't need faeries, but thanks!

Well, congratulations on finishing!! Though that final exam sounds frustrating!

And, out of nowhere yesterday I got an email that said that El has chosen to pay cash so the student loan portion of her financial aid package was cancelled, but to let them know if we'd like them to reinstate them so.. YAY that it's finally fixed!

I find it really strange they automatically gave her student loans? I never had an option to get any before now but I guess that is because my amounts owed have always been so little or nothing. But like at Mercer, I have the option to get them but I have to go actually ACCEPT them...and I have not yet because I wanted to talk to financial aid with all those questions first.

But yay for El's being settled. Can't wait til mine is.

[edit] 730pm Home from my last in person session for the semester. Well actually, for almost a whole year. I won't go to any more in person til next fall at Mercer. I would say done with the class, but she put up one more assignment, and told us we didn't have to do it unless the 10pts would make or break our grade. Well it won't make mine any different, but I cannot NOT do an assignment, so I'll do it later LOL No zeros or undone work for me. I already have an A. Over 900 points is an automatic A and I had 936/940 points before tonight :P (10 pts for the new assignment, 50 for the presentation and being in class today to make 1k points). This is why I have a 3.9 GPA :P LOL (That and because I got a B in economics instead of an A is why its not a 4.0) :P Yes I'm a bit crazy about my grades.

ANYWAY. Phew. Done with two classes now (more or less, as I said).

Oooh, congratulations Kat!

Yeah well, you only have to specifically NOT accept, but you can't just not accept a portion of the package, but she also couldn't get them unless she did student loan counseling, so she just.. didn't do that. :P

Interesting...because on my award letter (online) there is just a box to click accept. I can also adjust the amounts I want. There is a box for subsidized loan for spring semester and one for summer semester, and a box for unsubsidized loan for each semester too. For a total of just over 10k. Like, uh??? I can't go for summer semester, how do I reject that amount, but still accept the spring amount? And what if I end up only needing $700-ish and not 2-3k for spring semester? And since one loan is only $2227, if I need the 3k, I guess I have to accept two loans, should I accept all of one and part of the other - or an even amount from both? What is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized in regards to me anyway?

Again, this is why I am talking to financial aid next week lol

And maybe because I am a grown up or its a different school, but they never said anything to me about loan counseling. I think I vaguely recall Katie saying something about it a few years ago tho. I dunno. Maybe if I accept it I'll have to do something like that.

In better news. I got an email today saying my DECAL scholarship application was received, and is being reviewed. Hopefully soon I'll know if I get that or not. Maybe even before I go talk to financial aid. AND! Katie and Wesley's christmas gifts got here today!! The D&D shirts :D I really hope they like them. Nathan thinks they will.

[edit] 545pm Annnd I just sent you a christmas present. Should have stuffed it under your tree but i forgot about the tree until after i sent it giftwrapped LOL ENJOY!

I love the Christmas present, thank you! And now I can play with it before Christmas :P

Awww yay! I forgot to get Connor a present, maybe I should make him and Lily matching D&D shirts haha.

Hopefully you'll get the DECAL shcholarship!

And yeah, the way they did it was just.. so confusing? Mostly everything she got was free money, grants and scholarships, and then she had some private scholarships that paid for the rest so she really didn't need loans at all for this year.. but maybe in the future?

lol yes you have the skills and equipment to make shirts. I bought mine. Paid way too much for them in my opinion but eh whatever. I have no idea what else to get them. So splurge it was.

Yes! Have fun playing with it. umm, it also got me an achievement, so there is that. But. LOL I was planning on splurging on you and just a few others for luminaire anyway, as I rarely see anyone else around.

I didn't apply for any other scholarships or grants - I did look on scholarship universe (its where the college told me to go look and apply) but I was a bit confused by it all and figured if I didn't really need it since I'd hopefully get the PELL and DECAL and not owe a lot, I wasn't going to stress myself out applying for scholarships that apparently MILLIONS of people can apply for (as some of them were from like companies in California and other places like that, so obviously ANYONE in the country can apply if they use scholarship universe)

Shirts are kind of stupidly expensive for what they are, generally! But then again, so is the equipment and materials, I suppose!

Oooh yeah, I think it's a lot harder to get scholarships anytime after you're a senior in HS honestly, because that's where all the local ones are for. :/

What are you doing this weekend?!