Saturday, January 31, 2009

Love my boss

My boss at the tutoring job e-mailed us Friday morning at 8:05 saying we needed to have a meeting Saturday morning. She suggested we make it a breakfast meeting. She asked for suggestions where to eat. I e-mailed her back at 8:07 and suggested Cocos. She e-mailed all of us tutors at 8:09 and said, "Breakfast at my crib at 9a.m. Saturday morning. Pancakes, sausage, freshly squeezed orange juice, and coffee. Be there, or miss out."

So all but 2 of the tutors showed up at her house yesterday. We were all there on time. My boss was in the kitchen, and all of us offered to help, but she insisted we set up her computer, and chug away at the agenda. The biggest issue was a lack of preparedness on the students' part when it comes to having notes, books, or necessary supplies. Basically she said that we need to take off 5+ points for not having that, she's going to make sure all of the teachers demand their students come to class prepared.

Very productive meeting. We started the meeting at 9:05 and by 10a.m. we hit all 5 points on the agenda. Usually 5 points would take us 3-4 hours and we'd have to write everything on the whiteboard, talk back and forth, but this one was a lot more effective. She realized that also.

By 10a.m. we had all been served and busted out our iPhones to talk about our favorite apps. 6 of us have iPhones. I was the 2nd person to get one. My boss has the old model that she bought back in April, then I got mine on the day the new 3Gs were introduced. We're all obsessed with Shazam and Pandora.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Work or the lack thereof...

The state budget crisis basically sucks. Got my hours cut at the high school tutoring gig. I used to tutor Wednesday and Friday mornings form 7:30-9:30, then 12:30-2:30. That was a nice $80 extra a week. I love the job, love the kids, and the teachers I work with. The program is running out of money. It is a district funded program, but the program grew by 4 sections this year and there just isn't the money to fund tutors. It will be all gone by the end of February. Hours have been cut dramatically as it is. I'm only there Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings now. Other tutors have had their hours cut 15-20 hours; those whom are there on a much more consistent basis. No tutoring Wednesday or Friday afternoons anymore. I am sad because the kids need us, and on the selfish side it was my spending money. My paychecks from subbing go directly into my savings. My money from tutoring was my spending/eating out money with friends.

Subbing. Well, there hasn't been a lot of that. For a while I was subbing every Tuesday/Thursday at my mom's school for her best friend Linda and another lady whom was out pretty regularly on Tuesdays for health reasons. I subbed nearly every Tuesday/Thursday in December and every Tuesday/Thursday in January the first week the kids were back at school. I knew last week I wouldn't get any sub calls on Tuesday because we came back from a 3 day weekend. I knew that last Thursday the same thing would probably happen. Then this week is parent conferences. The students are out at 11:30 and because teachers are required to be there for the conferences, there were of course no calls because the teachers aren't calling in sick. That's a good thing because it is good for the students, but on my end? Not so much. I am enjoying having days with nothing to do other than homework, or working around the house.

Tuesday I used my time to go to Victoria Gardens and browse. I also went to the gym and did some reading for school. Tomorrow? Disneyland if I don't get a call. I haven't been since July. I would much rather work because Disneyland would be a solo trip.

This is a bit old BUT it makes me happy


My birthday was January 8 and I had to work that day. I love subbing for friends- they leave me nice notes and more personalized lesson plans.

Found this as I was clearing off stuff from my iPhone.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

He's back and banging his head

Here's one of those conversations with my dad I had this afternoon. It is one of those that makes me want to bang my head against the computer screen.

Dad: What's with the eggs in the refrigerator?
Me: Um... that's where they belong?
Dad: Don't you like eggs?
Me: Sure.
Dad: I thought you needed the eggs.
Me: For what?
Dad: Those egg things.
Me: That's descriptive.
Dad: Those egg things you make.
Me: What do I make? Eggs? What have I made with eggs lately?
Dad: Mexican things. Breakfast things.
Me: What Mexican thing or breakfast thing?
Dad: Isn't this why you bought eggs?
Me: I didn't buy eggs. We usually have eggs on hand. Mom was making cookies the other day.
Dad: So what are the eggs for?
Me: To eat.
Dad: So what are you having for breakfast?
Me: Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pockets usually, or Oatmeal Crisp.
Dad: So you don't need eggs? What are these Mexican things in the refrigerator?
Me: (thinking, trying to figure what Mexican things are in the refrigerator) Tortillas?
Dad: Yes. What are you using those for?
Me: Quesadillas.
Dad: Those have egg in them.
Me: If you do a breakfast quesadilla.
Dad: You're not eating these for breakfast?
Me: No. For lunch. Chicken and cheese.
Dad: So you're not putting egg in them?
Me: No.
Dad: Then how are you making them?
Me: ARE YOU LISTENING? I JUST SAID CHICKEN AND CHEESE QUESADILLAS. NOTICE THE TORTILLAS, THE SHREDDED CHEESE, NOTICE THE CUT UP CHICKEN BREAST IN THE REFRIGERATOR. PUT A TORTILLA ON A PLATE WITH CHEESE, BREAK UP THE CHICKEN AND DROP IT ON, PUT SOME SALSA ON. PUT IT IN THE MICROWAVE FOR A MINUTE OR SO.
Dad: Oh. (goes back to making the chili for dinner)