Good News, Bad News, Good News...
by Steve West on January 23, 2010

Good News: Brenda got a job.
Bad News: The pay sucks!
Good News: Potential new career track.
Bad News: Education ($$$) ultimately required.
Good News: She'll be working at our daughters' school.
Bad News: School diseases potential coming home now times three.
Good News: Bought Brenda roses as congratulatory gift.
Bad News: Met UOAS at the cash register.
All kidding aside, it's great that Brenda now returns to the ranks of the employed. She really liked her time at home, being able to accomplish tasks that she had little time for otherwise. But she feels great being able to leave the dole of the state (thanks, Maryland!). I truly wish I made enough so that she could stay at home (her expressed preference) but alas. She'll be an assistant to one of the special needs classes (not Olivia's) and feels very insecure about her qualifications. I assured her that as long as she brought the right temperament to the job, the children will be rewarded by the experience. She's hoping that she'll make observations that will benefit Olivia. I'm hoping that she doesn't get burned out by having to do what she'll do 24 hrs/day. She starts Monday. I wish her well.
Six Replies to Good News, Bad News, Good News...
Lori Lancaster | January 24, 2010
[hidden by author request]
Amy Austin | January 24, 2010
Ditto... good luck, brave woman! ;-p
Jackie Mason | January 29, 2010
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Melissa Anderson | March 3, 2010
FYI I don't know what UOAS means, but every time i see it think ROUS. You know, rodent of unusual size. I hope that's not it :)
Steve West | March 3, 2010
Closer than you imagine. It's an acronym for Ugly On A Stick, my grocery store nemesis.
Web Junkie
Steve West scours the Web searching for interest or absurdity and then shakes his head ruefully when he finds it. Read more »

Inspiration
Go »
So You Say You Want A 2007 List
Site that collects all the lists from other sites pertaining to 2007. Very handy. Go »
Strike Two
Brenda and I attended a school meeting today to discuss the battery of assessments needed to properly develop an education plan for Olivia. After hearing the assessments from the primary teacher, occupational therapist, speech therapist and physical therapist, we got to the part that was a stunner to say the least - the school psychologist. After giving her report which mimicked the other reports to a large degree, she informed us that she felt it was time to officially put it in the record that Olivia was intellectually disabled. Go »
Massage This
Recent conversation with Brenda: (After a massage and dinner as a birthday gift from her sister) me: How was everything? Brenda: I'm gonna be sore for the next few days. I made the mistake of asking for medium pressure. Go »
It's That Time Of Year
Snow time. I don't live in Fargo so I defer to Denise and others for even more horrible snow stories. But the forecast yesterday was for anywhere between 6 and 32 inches of snow depending on a whole bunch of meteorological variables and other mysteries. Go »










Scott Hardie | January 23, 2010
So do I.
Kelly has done that work, if she can answer any questions for Brenda.