It requires some sort of degree, doesn't it? That's another major hurdle. Right now we are barely getting by bill wise. If I all the sudden start working outside the home I have to factor in more gas money right off the top. We'd also have to see about juggling between one car, or possibly needing a second car at that point.

---------- Post added 05-30-2013 at 08:21 PM ----------

I think before we make any decisions that would be more costly I do need to wait for Aaron to get hired in as a full time employee. Right now he has a 20-25min drive and makes $9 an hour. It goes up to $13 an hour after that, and at that point if I decide I want to pursue something different I think that it wouldn't be quite as difficult.

To be honest, though, without furthering my education I feel as though I may be stuck in a rut doing customer support or basic level factory positions. Aaron's like I can get you hired in doing what I did when I first got hired in, but I can already tell you you won't like it.

I just wonder if (overall) things will ever get better if you don't have a fulfilling job. Work isn't everything in life, but 40 hours out of the week is a substantial chunk of time. When it drains us, we're drained in dealing with everything else in life.

That's what it's doing to me. I don't know what it will be like actually taking calls. It may not be quite as draining. Right now it's a real test of patience sitting through 7 and a half hours of power points and this lady's voice just droning on. I've learned coping strategies...when she goes over the 'no duh' stuff I find something else to occupy my time with. I'm hoping once we get over the real basics that things will get better.

I'm just really stuck in a rut and there isn't an easy solution to any of it. I've kind of screwed up in life enough that I don't have an easy out and it's going to take quit a bit to get the ship turned in a different direction. *sighs*

I'm feeling as if that's the same for everyone. Anything worth fighting for takes all that we have to get. If you had started at age 18 I don't think it would have been any easier, you know? :(

No, you're right...it would require the same hoops in school. The difference is I'm living outside of my parent's house and have bills and other commitments...and my whole getting my license back thing too...

I wish I could first find some good methods to cope with stress. I think that would help me quite a bit. Maybe get into meditation again or something...

Exercise helps, too. A brisk walk--enough to get a sweat going. Meditation is good, any kind of relaxation is good too.

/ pokes Chi with a pistol

Somebody looks adorable. ;)

How the heck do you find somebody's marketplace shop? :(
Cause I wanna browse your stuffu!

Hata! <3

It's by user ID, I believe. This link should work:
http://www.menewsha.com/marketplace/...p?userid=32217

Oooooh, I see.
I think I have all of those thoughhhh (except the cows, but I dun need no cows). :P
How're you?

I'm good! We moved to a two bedroom apartment closer to work and school, which has helped our overall situation out a bunch. My husband graduated a couple weeks ago, and he'll be taking his state licensing exam in another month or so (whenever it becomes available--it's not instantaneous for them).

I'm inching toward finishing my 900 hour internship. I've put in 21 weeks, so... less than two and a half months left! After that? I dunno. We're looking for work and to save up for a house.

Terra's doing well. She'll be three in a few months, which doesn't seem possible. :(

Wowwowwow! Lots of things have happened, and it seems like time is flying! Good luck with everything!! Haha, I have two and a half months at an internship now too. xD /highfive

^-^

So what's new with you? Tell me more about the internship!

Well, I'm actually a co-op student, meaning I spend every other semester working at a Infrastructure company in Chicago. :3
This is my second time working there, and I start work tomorrow! No idea what I'll be working on this time. My roommate is also going to be moving in today, so I'm a bit nervous.

How well did your last roommate work out? I'd feel nervous sharing my living space. Hopefully you guys will mesh well together and it won't be a biggie. :3

Good luck tomorrow!! :D

3/4 of my roommates have been awesome/ liveable. 1 roommate was hell. Ugh. So after that one person showing me the worst, I don't think I'll have too big of a problem with this girl, but still, nervous. xD

Thank you! I just hope I fill out all the forms correctly. xD

You will, I'm sure. ^-^

How are you doing, Chi??

This weekend was nice....Not long enough, but nice. Two more weeks of training before we have a week of nesting...O_o; I'm kind of ready to get the show on the road.

Oh we got our flowers planted this weekend, and the outside all cleaned up. It looks really nice now. ^_^ Hopefully next weekend we can get some cleaning on the inside done next. It could really use it!

The weekend was nice, but like you say... not long enough. I'm dreading going into work/interning tomorrow. I love it while I'm there, but when I have 3 days at home it's nearly impossible to get motivated. I think if I had a week or two off I'd eventually get bored and feel more driven. But hey, August will be here soon and my internship will be over. Then I get a mini vacation.

Things are trucking along smoothly in the meantime. Hopefully Cole gets a job soon. I'll likely hear more tomorrow if it seems possible for him to get one of the nurse care manager jobs where I intern. Otherwise, he needs to find an interim job until he sits for his NCLEX and becomes licensed.

I hear you on those 3 day weekends. After having Memorial Day weekend off (what a treat!) I reeeeally didn't want to get back into the groove of normal work. Eventually, once thing slow down and Aaron HAS vacation time he can take...I want to book another 3 day weekend in. It felt so nice and refreshing.

Aaron just texted me this morning and he's finished his training so he's flip flopping from the day shift back to nights. I wish he could continue working days, as it is just more normal hours but a job's a job. The girl who is working nights with him got offered an internship elsewhere and they need him desperately to move back over as he will be at that point the only one working in that department. I'm hoping it won't get too stressful for him. He seems to really enjoy what he's doing, which is a nice change of pace. I'm looking forward to me finishing up training now so I can return to my normal 10:30am-7pm shift instead of 2-10s...It's a 3 hour difference, but when Aaron and I are working these different schedules that 3 hours makes all the difference.

Speaking of which...two more weeks of 'training' before we start to nest...I'm slightly nervous, but I'm also secretly looking forward to being done with training. It is getting better than the first two weeks, but still not fun by any stretch of the imagination. I'm hoping the actual job is a bit better. We'll see...Aaron keeps on saying McDonalds is always hiring...meh.

He is right, though. If this job continues to suck after training, look elsewhere and don't settle in misery.

Cole's checking out any possible preceptor options at the hospital while waiting to hear back on some other applications. We're financially okay right now, but if it takes another month or so for him to secure work, we may not be.

I'm tired. Full of dinner and a tiny bit of cake I baked tonight. It's a cinnamon roll cake, which while nice, needs a bit of tweaking. Not too bad though...

A friend's coming over in a couple hours. A lot's on her mind.

Hope your friend's visit goes well. :)

I'm going to try not to stick around long, however the other thing is I do want to find something comparable in pay...Right now I'm still the bread winner out of the two of us....for the time being.

I'm hoping Cole gets a job lead soon. Soon. Dx

In the meantime we're just making lists of stuff we need to do. My list is getting bigger in terms of certifications I need to apply for and junk. :s

Pam is talking about moving in with us again now...and she tells dad it's serious. Apparently she approached her mom last night and told her, and it ended up with her mom getting very upset and in tears. Her mom called her during her lunch break to talk to her about it and seems to think that Aaron's initiated it. Aaron hasn't talked to Pam for a good solid week if not longer, and only found out about this whole ordeal this evening.

I'm really on the fence about the whole thing. I have been finding the older the kids get the less attached I feel. I think part of it has to do with Pam being a teenager and being really flighty herself, but also it has been a survival technique for myself. I use to care a lot to the point it was taking its toll on my well being. I finally had to just let go and let be what be. I don't agree with alot of what her mother has done so far, but I have so little control over it.

Not only that but I haven't even finished my training and now I'm finding myself sitting here thinking about the whole scenario. i guess it gives me something else to focus on other than being annoyed with our trainer for going over the most minute details on the bills. It's like really? I guess they're trying to be thorough in case you have just pulled your head out of the ground, or if you're just plain thick.

No word on whether or not Tristan is pushing to move as well either...Aaron says he's going to try to work it so that Tristan stays with mom as Aaron seems to think that would be in his best interest - he's established there and seems to be doing fine. With his sister moving out...I don't know if that will change. Aaron at one time said if one child moves with him he thinks it's only a matter of time before the other follows.

You always had said in the past you wished they would live with you both. It may be a good thing in the long run. Difficult, and in the rewarding way. Time will tell I suppose, right?

Yes, time will tell.

I don't think their mom will give up this easily. I think Pam is now older and more willing to fight the cause, which is what we need. The only way we would of won without Pam stepping up to home plate is by getting a lawyer and fighting it out in court...and in the end, in all honesty, I don't think there would be sufficient enough proof for us to say she'd be better living here.

I'm just hoping everything rights itself, one way or another.