Update from Dreamcoat_central...
Going to spend some time with my sister tonight and tomorrow, with a much-needed haircut fit in at 8:30 tomorrow morning. Then home to pack and take off for the Mad City, where I will be ensconsed day and night at the UW for five days of cataloging hell. Yeeeeeechhhh! I need the course to maintain my state certification, and I flunked the course this spring when my Forensics team went to state, the building project broke ground, my son moved home from school and our silver wedding anniversary occurred all at the same time that my final project was due. The SLIS was good about refunding a portion of my tuition to apply to the on-campus summer course, but because it's in Madison and in the classroom, the cost will be approximately two weeks' salary out of pocket when the dust settles. This job gets rottener all the time, I swear. My board will graciously pay for my regular work time and my mileage--they don't have to after all, since if I weren't a giant f***-up, the course would be completed at no extra cost already. *sob* No money. Just in time for Erika to return to school.
Luke will not be returning to school. His Federal Student Aid award letter stated that he was ineligible for grants, and was only eligible for two small student loans, which, when combined, leave us $3000 short this year for tuition. That's BEFORE we consider housing or textbooks. We can't cosign on any more loans, since we are already up to our neck in student loans for both Luke and myself, and trying to make the balloon payment on the house this winter. We must keep our debt/income ratio reasonably in balance if we want to save our home. My heart is broken for him. He was the Mass Comm Dept's Rookie of the Year last year. Now all we can do is hope that education funding takes an upswing in the coming years, and in the meantime that he doesn't require any sort of medical care. He's finally gaining some hours at work, but it's been slim pickin's this summer. Because Monty's job is commission-based, and I'm a municipal employee, this sh**-tanked economy has really come home to roost at Dreamcoat_central. Whadd'r ya gonna do? We're certainly not unique, but my struggle for an education was NOT what I wanted for my kids.
In better news, Erika has her first real job. She'll be working as a barrista at the local coffee house a few evenings a week. She's very excited, and we're excited for her.
My week-end with the nuns was a fabulous pick-me-up. We all came back feeling more confident, less overwhelmed and full of grrl power. They are most awesome, and have no idea how much they save my life sometimes. Well, maybe they do, because we all say the same thing.
Luke will not be returning to school. His Federal Student Aid award letter stated that he was ineligible for grants, and was only eligible for two small student loans, which, when combined, leave us $3000 short this year for tuition. That's BEFORE we consider housing or textbooks. We can't cosign on any more loans, since we are already up to our neck in student loans for both Luke and myself, and trying to make the balloon payment on the house this winter. We must keep our debt/income ratio reasonably in balance if we want to save our home. My heart is broken for him. He was the Mass Comm Dept's Rookie of the Year last year. Now all we can do is hope that education funding takes an upswing in the coming years, and in the meantime that he doesn't require any sort of medical care. He's finally gaining some hours at work, but it's been slim pickin's this summer. Because Monty's job is commission-based, and I'm a municipal employee, this sh**-tanked economy has really come home to roost at Dreamcoat_central. Whadd'r ya gonna do? We're certainly not unique, but my struggle for an education was NOT what I wanted for my kids.
In better news, Erika has her first real job. She'll be working as a barrista at the local coffee house a few evenings a week. She's very excited, and we're excited for her.
My week-end with the nuns was a fabulous pick-me-up. We all came back feeling more confident, less overwhelmed and full of grrl power. They are most awesome, and have no idea how much they save my life sometimes. Well, maybe they do, because we all say the same thing.