I know things have been a little light around here, and I'm sorry, but I'm in a Perfect Storm of momshit. I'm finalizing the court proceedings for Baby Queen's custodial guardianship and starting paperwork for her SSI. Yes, Kerodin, my girls are proud members in good standing of the Free Shit Army. For a mere $1500 in legal and court costs, I get legal custodianship over their bodies and the whopping $484 dollars Uncle Sam sends them every month. Because we provide room and board, the government cuts the payment from $780 to $484. And I have to keep close accounting of every penny we spend to prove we aren't squandering it. Forget that we spend way over that amount in housing, food, clothing, fun incidentals, health insurance, co-pays, prescriptions, and transportation, we don't want to get on the government's bad side. So I'm adding another job to the pile.
I've also decided it's time to attempt a re-entry to the working force. I've been interested in technical writing and found an online certification course through U of Calif-Santa Clara that I can probably complete in a year. Add that to my BS and MA and I might be employable. Pantex just down the road is constantly advertising for tech writers starting at $28 an hour full-time. Seems worth a shot. So yeah, started my first class this month and realizing that I've been academically dormant for 25 years and it shows. My brain thingy hurts.
I just haven't had much time in the last couple of weeks, plus getting over the Cold From Hell, and it all ends up with a cold, sad and lonely blog. I am sorry. And I'll try to do better. Promise.
No reason to say sorry, Angel, with all those curve balls getting thrown at you, so to speak. You've done better than most people would have with all that you have to keep up with, that just shows your character. Or maybe it's because you're a redhead, chuckling.
ReplyDeleteAnd if anyone wants to give you shit because of the girls and the financials, what they will say says a lot about them.
Take care of business, we'll still be here. :)
Hey, don't worry about what the "jackass" has to bray. You're doing what you have to do, especially when so many others would have given up years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe brain hurts won't stop, but they will get better.
Storyteller
Sweetheart, you take care of the Queens and yourself. Us blog surfers will still be loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind and all of the rest of the Boy Scout creed. The III pretender can kiss a rosy red sphicter muscle!
ReplyDeleteTake care of your family stuff first, Angel.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the note, but don't worry about us.....
Besides quality beats quantity. And the shithead from St Maries can just phuq right off. Twat.
ReplyDeleteTechnical writing is very hard to do well, but a well-written manual, procedure, etc., is worth its weight in gold. Your blog writing is very clear and straightforward, and people will appreciate this in technical writing.
ReplyDeleteGo for it.
Awwww, you guys just made my night!
ReplyDeleteAnd Charlie, one of my peeves is poorly written instructions. I hope to produce work that inspires Men everywhere to READ THE DAMN INSTRUCTIONS.
I don't need no stinking instructions.
DeleteExile1981
Are ya gonna learn the bad Chinese to Engrish translations? My personal favorites.
ReplyDeleteI prefer these types of personal posts. I look forward to more of them.
ReplyDeleteYou are an almost daily read Angel, and I really enjoy your postings, you along with Wirecutter and my day is complete and bright after a normal brain hurt work session.
ReplyDeleteShame you ain't in my neck of the woods as I truely need a tech writer right now.
Look after your family mate, your blog is fine.
Girl Power Miss Leslie! You are a Queen yourself with many crowns. I have such faith in you! You call anytime you need a break..you know I'm here hun...
ReplyDeleteKeep on truckin girl, you can do this and life will get better.
ReplyDeleteAngel, do you care that Lisa Lane used your real name? I hadn't seen it in the blog before.
ReplyDeleteDo what you gotta do Angel. You know your legions of loyal readers will support you.
ReplyDeleteBlog when you can, like was said above, family comes first.
Not to worry, $484 is about what they'll take out of your paycheck.
ReplyDeletePhillip, it's no biggie. I'm sure the government knows exactly who I am, where I live, what I eat, and the size and color of my undies. I don't think it's going to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteAs others said,"family first" Angel. About that Pantex deal, you live on the wrong side to ride the underground train. Don't need directions for those newcleer bombs either. Hell, Slim Pickens just hot wired his.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to try getting that job without the certification. You can always apply again later.
ReplyDeleteFWIW from a recently retired principal engineer. There two, maybe three avionics companies in the states; I was with the biggest. Most of our tech writers were previously electronics technicians. Clear writing beats certifications every time. Work on that. They'll probably want writing samples anyway, so emphasize that.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the studies, Angel. I'm in the middle of taking an online EMT course right now, and it's been a ball-buster so far to keep going.
ReplyDeleteNever worry about us, we tend to be somewhat patient souls and like drjim and other have stated, your family's well-being should always be first.
What the others said about taking care of the family first.
ReplyDeleteThe technical writing course I had in college was fun but a challenge, and the one from which I got the most benefit.
Hi Angel, there is no University of California, Santa Clara; however, there is a University of Santa Clara in California. It is a Jesuit school and is quite good, but very expensive. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteSteve in CA
Steve, technically it's UCSC-Silicon Valley Extension.
ReplyDeleteAh, University of Calif. Santa Cruz extension. Just opened a couple of years ago. I used to work just down the street. Good luck, there is good money in tech writing.
Deletewhat the others said. family first.
ReplyDeleteTo Lofty and Angel
ReplyDeleteIts the World Wide Web(WWW). Where do you live Mars? I have an idea that you don't need to be in the same town or even the same state to(o) write tech papers. Try it. We can't you say it might not work. Yeah but it might work.
Still have know idea why I can only post Anon.
Kevin S Texas