Orientation, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today was Orientation for the Transfer students at Mount Ida College.  I got there late because I fell asleep after I turned the alarm clock off.  Jason was late for work and I was 25 minutes late for my Math placement test.  Yikes.  I couldn't remember how to do almost anything consciously but my subconscious seemed to remember some algebra and I scored a 72.  High enough to get me into the required math course for my program.  Then I went back to the building where the presentations occurred.  I did learn some interesting things.  For instance, there's a free tutoring program.  Did not know that.  I will be using that a lot first semester.  

Then after financial aid made their presentation we broke for lunch.  Sandwiches and such were provided as was a nice breakfast spread.  I had a roast beef sandwich and some potato salad.  I didn't take much in case the food didn't agree with me.  Then us Vet Techs were taken to a room with computers and we sat down with a staff member and picked our classes.  Dr. Sarah Lefebvre, the Anatomy and Physiology Professor helped me.  It was so cool meeting one of my profs.  

Then once I had registered for classes I went to order my scrubs, stethoscope, and bandage scissors.  Next I had my photo taken for my student ID.  Thank goodness I dyed my hair a few days before.  I talked to security about where we could park and then I frolicked off to pick up Jason at work.  Then we went to the Autobody shop where our baby is being fixed up and I signed some paperwork.  Then I got back in our rental 2013 Prius and came home to cook a chicken and to get a good night's sleep.  Tomorrow I find out if our medical expenses will help us out with the financial aid because in Jason's case it will.  

I Miss My Husband Already...

Life is hard that's for sure.  Jason's now working two jobs and I already barely get to see him.  When he starts school I'm really never going to see him.  We have his financial aid meeting tomorrow so we find out then if we can afford to send Jason to school.  Yikes.  He'll be working two jobs and in school 4.5 hours M-Th.  I know it doesn't last forever but I will miss him terribly.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder right?

I worked my training shifts on Friday and Saturday in Downtown Crossing.  While training at the registers we got a lot of British and Irish folks.  I loved hearing their accents.  But I couldn't believe how exhausting it was working two hours at a cash register after not working basically at all for 5 years.  I have a 7 hour shift on the 4th.  Time and a half baby!  But 7 hours.  I'm going to buy insoles for my sneakers, which yes I am allowed to wear.  I have to walk to work in 90 degree heat because Jason's shift at Advanced Auto Parts starts an hour before my shift does.  And really it's only a 15 minute walk.  Not so bad.  I'll get used to the standing I'm sure.  It may just take a little while.

School Orientation is next week!  Yay!  I get to sign up for classes and talk to my student adviser.  I need to have the money for scrubs somehow.  It's like $100 + shipping.  Yikes.  So many costs.  I guess that's what school is all about.  Learning and fees.  But I'm excited for Mount Ida.  Vet Tech here I come!  Now if only we can make all this scheduling work with only one car, we're golden.  :)

Some Things Ought Not Be Forgotten

My grandmother, Nanny, just turned 92 a week ago.  She is getting along although her words are slipping and she's trying various walkers to help her get around.  She is a grand Lady.  She served in the British anti-aircraft gunnery units as the commander in London during the Blitz in World War II.  She went on to serve as a civil servant for the Canadian Government for over 40 years.  She was the best secretary there was, top officials fought over who would have her work for them.

My Grandfather, Grumpy, will be I believe 87 in the fall.  He has served with the Canadian Army's UN Peacekeeping core, traveling to places such as Burma, and India, the Middle East and the South Pacific.  Such tales he could tell of his adventures.

Yet in all 33 years I've know them I've barely heard the stories.  I guess they don't like talking about the war and the missions after.

I have this strangling feeling that I'm going to lose a piece of something forever in not that much longer and I don't know how to get that piece of something.  I'm running out of time.  I want to know it all.  But it's painful to recollect and I've waited too long.

Some things ought not be forgotten

A Little of Bruins and an All Around Update.

The Bruins won!  The game.  Not the Cup.  They have to win 3 more to do that.  But tonight they won.  Daniel Paille scored the winning goal in overtime.  Good for them.  My husband was originally the avid Boston Bruins fan but he has turned me into one too.  I also cheer for the LA Kings because I feel like I should be living in LA.  And of course, because of Wil Wheaton.

I passed the background check at CVS (of course I would). So I filled out some paperwork online and now I just have to go to my training sessions in Boston.  Which is going to be a real pain to get to but I'm sure I'll work it out.  I am a little nervous working after not having worked for 5 years but I have faith in myself.  I know I can do it.

My husband started his second job at Advanced Auto Parts tonight.  He said it was good and he likes it.  He worked a double today.  He had a Honda Village Saturday shift first, then he had a few hours off before his AAP shift.  I gave him some oatmeal in between because it was too early for dinner but by the time he got home for dinner he'd be starving.  I made homemade chicken stew/soup.

We have to go back to meet with my husband's school, Porter and Chester Institute because the Financial Aid person's computer went down right before she was going to help us.  So we get to go back this week and try to work it out so that he can go to school.  Advanced Auto is okay with him just working the nights he doesn't have class, so that's great!  He will be a very tired man for the next few years but at least he will be moving in the right career path to jumpstart his career.

I have signed up for Orientation at Mount Ida.  I signed up for July 9th Transfer Student Orientation Day, where I will have to take a math placement test (yuck), and I will pick my classes (yay!).  I met some of my fellow Class of 2017 Vet Techs on Facebook which was pretty cool.  I even talked to one in chat for an hour.  She was shy but I think she warmed up to me.

The piggies are well.  I have discovered they like blueberries and green beans, red-leaf lettuce, as well as carrots and parsley.  They're not big on oranges though.  They'll eat them eventually but they're not excited about them.

A Step In The Right Direction

I got hired by CVS!  Now all I have to do is pass their background check.  The I take orientation and fill out all the paperwork.  Then I have a training day and then I start.  Yay!  I'm to be the Greeter/ person who helps you with those self check out machines.  I forget what they're called.  Cool, huh?  And they know I'm going to school and will work with me on the hours.

School.  Yeah, so I need to still come up with a pretty big chunk of change for student loans.  Yuck.  I'm not going to lie, my credit is not so shiny.  So we'll see if I can actually pay for school.  I have befriended many of my fellow Class of 2017 Vet Tech Majors via Facebook and can't wait to meet them in real life.  Of course since I am transferring credits I may be able to graduate a semester early.  Or something like that.  My credits aren't in Vet Tech but at least I don't have to take the tedious English courses over again.

The Piggies are all well.  Amy is back in the big cage and Penny is bullying her as usual.  Bernadette has been moved to the small cage with Snickers.  They seem to be getting along reasonably well.  I can't wait for them all to be in the big cage.  That should be fun.

Monty the Ball Python had her first complete shed that she didn't need any helkp with last night.  What a relief.  I suppose there are advantages to outside humidity.  Twinkie, Rusty, and Peanut are all fine.

Well that's as good an update as any.  Stop and enjoy life.  Take a breath of fresh air whenever you can.

A Painful Way To Spend a Rainy Day, But Good News Is on the Horizon

I had a tooth prepped for a crown today.  Not so much fun.  It wasn't so bad while I was at the dentist because of the Novocaine.  But when I got home and that Novocaine wore off, holy Ouch Batman.  I took Tylenol and 600mg of Ibuprofen.  Fortunately for me that worked.  Then I fell asleep.  I woke up at 5:45 pm remembering Jason got off at 6 today because he picked up an extra shift.

So Jason is going to talk to his boss about the tuition reimbursement program and possibly go to school at Porter Chester Institute at night to earn his Auto mechanics degree. We filed for FAFSA just in case work doesn't cover all of it and I'm very excited for him.  It's an 18 month program.  So I would go to school during the day while Jason works, pick up Jason, go to his school and sit there and study and do homework while he's learning.  I won't have any distractions.

Once Jason is an auto tech he can move up from being a valet to something that uses his skills.   Let's just hope it all works out.

Mount Ida College, You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet!!!!

I got into Mount Ida College!

It took so long because my transcripts kept getting lost in the mail.  Finally I had them sent to me then drove them to the College myself.  I got my tentative financial aid package which I'm not going to lie, does not close the gap as I would like, so I will talk to them about options.

But I am going to go!  My fortune cookie said to take a big step and this sure is a big one!  I'm going to be a Vet Tech and finally have my BA.  Or in this case I believe it's a BS.  Oh I am so glad.  I am going to work my ass off too.  No more scraping by, no more watching TV rather than going to class.  No more getting too sick to go.  I'm going to go and make a difference.  I'm going to study and do my homework.  I'm going to go to Discussion Groups.

And I'm going to make some new friends.  I already have a few and a great new friend, my buddy at Honda Village, but it will be nice to see the same people every day and get to know them.  My classes at UofT were so huge I didn't really meet anyone through class, just through my residence.  And Northeastern I talked to a few people but then the class would end and that was it.  This time I'm going to be with the same group of people for four years.  If I can't build friendships out of that I'm utterly hopeless.

So long story short, I'm going to Mount Ida College in Newton, MA.  Look out!