9 Nov 2022

FINALLY some good news!

by | posted in: The Latest on My Life | 0

Our financial situation has been BAD for over a year now…well for years really, but REALLY BAD the past year…and continued to get worse all the time.

Adam’s unemployment ran out, and we were out of options since all his searching for a job in his field have been unsuccessful.

We’ve been on food stamps since the beginning of this year so that has helped us out tremendously, and got government aid to get our mortgage and PG&E up to date. But now we are right back where we were…needing income NOW.

If you’re wondering why I didn’t look for work sooner…it’s because I’ve been an at-home, homeschooling mom since my first baby. I run online businesses (unsuccessfully…no money coming in for years) but had wanted to stay home and be there still for my last homeschooler, who is finishing up high school at home. But things change and needs arise that require sacrifices.

So I managed to get not one but TWO awesome jobs! I haven’t really started either yet…but I’m SO EXCITED! Especially since I’ve had a rough time transitioning back into the world since isolation during the Pandemic. I MISS being around people regularly! But we are all vaccinated and have handled COVID once already, so my worries in this regard have eased considerably. And it’s time for a change for all of us…many good changes.

Both jobs are part-time, and both are jobs I’ve done before and LOVED.

The first one is for the Fresno Discovery Center, where I worked prior to having kids (late 90s) when I first moved to Fresno and kept connections with for many many years. I helped organize the Fresno BabyFest there for 6 years when my kids were little, worked on the Board of Trustees for a number of years, and did a few other events and activities there over the years as well.

It’s a great place and since I worked there it has changed SO MUCH for the better! Barely surviving the Pandemic, it is still cruising along!

So I am soon starting an educator position there again and I’m excited to jump into teaching kids about science again!

The other job is for Barnes and Noble. I didn’t work there before, but I worked nearly a year at Borders Books in the late 90s. And since I’m a total bookworm, and recently I have become even MORE so, being ahead of schedule to complete my goal of 100 books in the Goodreads Reading Challenge this year! This job is just PERFECT for me right now! I’ve always loved working in retail since I like working with people…and books are a no-brainer for me!

Still waiting to hear when I start orientation for BN, but I have already started to observe field trip classes taught for FDC and learning the ropes.

It’s a very exciting new change in my life and I look forward to seeing where this goes from here!

screen shot of the app page for the Jigsaw HD app.
3 Aug 2022

I am OBSESSED with this jigsaw app!

by | posted in: My Latest Obsession | 0

So I am on a serious book binge this past year or so…I set myself a goal of 50 books for last year and met it…so I made a goal for 2022 of 100 books! And I am THOROUGHLY ENJOYING the challenge! According to Goodreads, I am 5 books ahead of my goal!

So while I am listening to audiobooks every day, my ADHD brain needs something to do with my hands…and I love puzzles. I can focus on the story at the same time as doing a puzzle. But we don’t have the space in our house right now to set up a physical puzzle. So I found some jigsaw puzzle apps. After using several that were ok, I came across this one…just called “Jigsaw HD” in the app store. (iOS)

I LOVE THIS APP! Not only does it have the ability to flip pieces and makes a satisfying “snap” when you find a match…but there are LOADS of free puzzles! You can get free ones regularly through their Facebook page and just in their daily free puzzle section on the app! Plus packs of puzzles are only a few dollars…I don’t often buy them since there are so very many awesome free ones, but every once in awhile I find a set that has some awesome ones I just have to have.

So this is my latest obsession…laying on the couch, doing puzzles while listening to a good audiobook. Right now I’m listening to Outlander.

I look forward every day to my book and puzzle time! It’s such a comfort during some very stressful times.

18 Jan 2022

I’m really a mom

by | posted in: The Joys of Parenting | 0

I was going through some old journals of mine tonight, looking for something, and I came across this entry that I just had to post here because it made me smile:

From a 9/20/06 entry–

I had an interesting moment today: I was mixing cookie dough w/a toddler on my lap, one boob hanging out cuz I had just finished nursing him, baby sticking a spatula in my mouth to lick, (5yr old) Maeven telling me “Mommy watch!!” skipping around the kitchen—My thought: “Oh yeah, I’m really a mom!!”

The images I used for this post are from the same month that this entry was written.

18 Oct 2021

Grasping at Clouds

by | posted in: Musings | 0

Do you ever feel like no matter what you do, you’re just grasping at clouds? Like you are trying and trying and trying to get something done, but no matter what you do, it just keeps slipping between your fingers?

Yeah. One of those days here. Weeks even. Months? I keep feeling like I’m taking 2 steps forward and 3 steps back.

I can’t seem to get my brain in focus today to get the stuff done that I want to get done. So I thought I’d take a break and blog a bit and see if I can clear my head. I’m not on my ADHD meds today so that definitely has something to do with it. But I had physical therapy today halfway through the day and I don’t like to take them on these days. It feels like a waste. If I take them before I go, I will get interrupted and have to leave while I’m in the middle of a roll (and that is SO HARD to get started again!) And if I wait until I get back to take them, it’s really too late in the day at that point.

Ah well. So I’m trying to work unmedicated today. It’s not really that big of a difference since I am on a new med (Ritalin wasn’t really working for me so I asked to try Adderall) and it’s on the very lowest dose and not really helping me yet either. But it is better than nothing.

Anyway, I do feel like in general that I’m making great progress on Tina’s Learning Adventures lately. I’ve been busting my ass, working endless hours on it. But it still isn’t bringing in any money. Not even paying for itself yet.

But I’m NOT giving up! I think about all those authors and actors and singers (etc…) that say that if you’re not being told “no” you’re not trying hard enough. Or however the saying goes. You know, the thing about how many publishers rejected JK Rowling before she was finally picked up. That sort of thing.

I KNOW that what I have to offer is amazing and that I can help so many homeschoolers. I already have! A LOT. And what I have created and am creating on my site now is the next level and can do so much more…and could actually help our family out financially as well. It’s time.

I just have to keep on keepin’ on. It’ll happen. Eventually. I’m not giving up. I KNOW I can make this work and it’ll be AMAZING. Someday. I just hope that someday is before our tax refund runs out.