laurainlimbo (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
laurainlimbo) wrote2007-09-08 08:58 am
laurainlimbo) wrote2007-09-08 08:58 am
it's september already?
if anyone noticed, I haven't posted for a long while. It's been almost two weeks in fact. I can't believe how time flies when you're busy (notice I didn't say having fun). There's so much going on that I couldn't even begin to put it all here - not to mention that I'd bore everyone to tears with all the details. But in a nutshell, I've been working full time, going to school two nights a week (for two sessions of each class now - more details on my classes later), and dealing with various dramas at home and with life in general. I could sort all of these dramas into a) car problems b) money problems (and of course these are related) and c) relationship difficulties (which of course is related to both, and to other issues which I won't go into now). We have two old cars, and both seem to be having their share of difficulties (as old cars do).
My little Sentra keeps plugging along, but the power window is temperamental - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Plus, my stupidity caused me to have a little mini accident a few weeks ago. When I was backing my car out of it's space in the building garage (at work), I hit a pole and completely broke my driver side rear view mirror. It was just dangling by a wire during my whole drive home (and this was the day we had huge storms, and it was pouring so hard that I couldn't even drive for about 45 minutes). I was so angry at myself because I think I was just overtired after a 10-hour work day and could have avoided that accident. We've managed to patch it with glue and duck tape, but it looks so ugly, and of course I'll have to actually fix it if I ever sell the car.
The Jeep hasn't given us any problems since we bought it a year ago. But recently we noticed that it was making some weird clanging/grinding noise when we took road trips. Turns out that the rear differential (don't ask me what that is) may be to blame. It has something to do with the gears, and most importantly it means that in the worst case scenario, we might have to replace the whole system. At a big shop like Midas this would cost over $2000 for parts and labor. If we can get parts from junk yards and have it done by someone outside of a shop (we have two possible mechanics we can use), it could be half that price. We both rely on our cars to go to work and school, and M needs the Jeep to go surfing, so needless to say we are not happy about the prospect of spending so much money.
Work, thankfully, has eased a bit lately. The work load doesn't seem so stressful, and I haven't been working 10-hour days very often. But that is also because I've been going to school two nights a week and leaving earlier. I guess the biggest thing about work is that I'm just bored and unchallenged. If I wasn't so busy, and also if I wasn't considering another move next year, I'd be looking for another job that pays better and that would be more rewarding. I feel like I am just doing the same stuff every day, and doing a good job, yet I'm not getting any positive feedback or adequate compensation. The only way they reward hard work is by piling on more!
So because I hate my job, I am really concentrating my efforts on this paralegal program.
I started my classes on August 28th, and so far I've enjoyed them both - though both of them are seriously going to kick my butt because there's so much reading and so many terms and concepts to remember. I was originally signed up for both the Intro course (Introduction to Law for Paralegals), and the Legal Research and Writing course. But when I attended the mandatory orientation a few weeks ago, the coordinator told us that we weren't advised to take these courses simultaneously. The program has only three required courses: Intro; Research/Writing; and Litigation. I've not taken any of these yet, and I want to finish the program, if possible, by next summer. so against this advice, I kept both classes on my schedule for this fall. On the first day of classes, I had intended to get to school early, but for some reason the traffic was just horrid and I ended up getting to school 20 minutes before the class was scheduled to start. First thing, I went to the teacher and told him I was also signed up for the Intro course and asked if it was okay for me to stay in the research class. He said absolutely not. He said that it would be too hard for me to follow, and that we really needed the foundations before taking the research. I don't agree, but I don't make the rules. So with 10 minutes before the beginning of classes, I went to the office and found a class which was still open (and luckily which I already wanted to take - "Estate Planning and Probate"), and ran to the classroom, which was all the way in another building. The teacher is a bit pompous and full of himself, but he seems knowledgeable and funny (which makes the class entertaining). He's been a probate lawyer for 20 years or so, and he also didn't hestitate to tell us that he has 7 children!! (One of my classmates speculates that is one reason that he is so arrogant). This class will really be a challenge because of the material (especially on trusts), but I am very interested in estate planning so I decided to sign up for it.
That was Tuesday. I also bought my books on Tuesday night - which was really painful. Three books came to about $225.00! I went online, but was only able to find used copies of two of them, which eventually saved me about $70.00 (not bad). Thursday I went to the Intro class. This is going to be interesting because it's taught by a Lawyer and Paralegal team. The lawyer will be doing a lecture on the material from the book for the first half of class; for the other half of class, the paralegal will do other activities and talk about the profession. the great thing about this class is that the paralegal has about 25 years of experience and will be giving us practical advice on getting a job, and teaching us the skills we really need, not just stuff from a book. The hardest thing for me with both of these classes will be the tests. it will be a lot of memorization of vocabulary and terms; the midterms and finals will be like 100 questions! And the Estate Planning teacher is so pompous, he expects us to be able to get through the tests and quizzes as quickly as he can. I hope that I can keep up and not fail miserably!
So besides the fact that I am going to be extremely lost and challenged by both of my classes, I am challenged by stuff at home regularly. the daily upkeep of bills, cleaning, cooking, shopping, and keeping my husband happy despite the fact that he misses his country and family, hates his job, and wants to surf and play music. it's tough! I tried watching a few movies recently but was too distracted to really enjoy them. So with Netflix, I've decided to just rent tv shows (I'm into season 5 of Smallville now), and documentaries until i can really have time to enjoy a movie. It's so unlike me to not watch movies - but I just haven't found anything I can really concentrate on.
I'm trying to keep up on all of your posts, and do a bit of commenting when I can. of course I'm so behind on comments from like a month ago or so, but I will do my best to get through them. some of my friends are still missing in action - I guess life is just overwhelming (good or bad) for lots of people these days!
If i've missed anything important, like birthdays or great posts, please let me know. meanwhile, I'm off to clean my apartment and do some reading before my mom arrives tomorrow afternoon. I'm taking Monday and Tuesday off from work to be with her! then it's back to the grind.
oh the other good thing is that our local indoor pool just opened, and we've signed up for a 3-month pass (only $82 for a couple for three months - so cheap!), so I've gone twice already. the swimming will help me to both exercise and relax and deal with the stress of life. so there are positive things happening too:)
sorry this was so long - I put the breaks to make it easier to handle. thanks for reading, and please drop by and say hi because I miss you all:)
My little Sentra keeps plugging along, but the power window is temperamental - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Plus, my stupidity caused me to have a little mini accident a few weeks ago. When I was backing my car out of it's space in the building garage (at work), I hit a pole and completely broke my driver side rear view mirror. It was just dangling by a wire during my whole drive home (and this was the day we had huge storms, and it was pouring so hard that I couldn't even drive for about 45 minutes). I was so angry at myself because I think I was just overtired after a 10-hour work day and could have avoided that accident. We've managed to patch it with glue and duck tape, but it looks so ugly, and of course I'll have to actually fix it if I ever sell the car.
The Jeep hasn't given us any problems since we bought it a year ago. But recently we noticed that it was making some weird clanging/grinding noise when we took road trips. Turns out that the rear differential (don't ask me what that is) may be to blame. It has something to do with the gears, and most importantly it means that in the worst case scenario, we might have to replace the whole system. At a big shop like Midas this would cost over $2000 for parts and labor. If we can get parts from junk yards and have it done by someone outside of a shop (we have two possible mechanics we can use), it could be half that price. We both rely on our cars to go to work and school, and M needs the Jeep to go surfing, so needless to say we are not happy about the prospect of spending so much money.
Work, thankfully, has eased a bit lately. The work load doesn't seem so stressful, and I haven't been working 10-hour days very often. But that is also because I've been going to school two nights a week and leaving earlier. I guess the biggest thing about work is that I'm just bored and unchallenged. If I wasn't so busy, and also if I wasn't considering another move next year, I'd be looking for another job that pays better and that would be more rewarding. I feel like I am just doing the same stuff every day, and doing a good job, yet I'm not getting any positive feedback or adequate compensation. The only way they reward hard work is by piling on more!
So because I hate my job, I am really concentrating my efforts on this paralegal program.
I started my classes on August 28th, and so far I've enjoyed them both - though both of them are seriously going to kick my butt because there's so much reading and so many terms and concepts to remember. I was originally signed up for both the Intro course (Introduction to Law for Paralegals), and the Legal Research and Writing course. But when I attended the mandatory orientation a few weeks ago, the coordinator told us that we weren't advised to take these courses simultaneously. The program has only three required courses: Intro; Research/Writing; and Litigation. I've not taken any of these yet, and I want to finish the program, if possible, by next summer. so against this advice, I kept both classes on my schedule for this fall. On the first day of classes, I had intended to get to school early, but for some reason the traffic was just horrid and I ended up getting to school 20 minutes before the class was scheduled to start. First thing, I went to the teacher and told him I was also signed up for the Intro course and asked if it was okay for me to stay in the research class. He said absolutely not. He said that it would be too hard for me to follow, and that we really needed the foundations before taking the research. I don't agree, but I don't make the rules. So with 10 minutes before the beginning of classes, I went to the office and found a class which was still open (and luckily which I already wanted to take - "Estate Planning and Probate"), and ran to the classroom, which was all the way in another building. The teacher is a bit pompous and full of himself, but he seems knowledgeable and funny (which makes the class entertaining). He's been a probate lawyer for 20 years or so, and he also didn't hestitate to tell us that he has 7 children!! (One of my classmates speculates that is one reason that he is so arrogant). This class will really be a challenge because of the material (especially on trusts), but I am very interested in estate planning so I decided to sign up for it.
That was Tuesday. I also bought my books on Tuesday night - which was really painful. Three books came to about $225.00! I went online, but was only able to find used copies of two of them, which eventually saved me about $70.00 (not bad). Thursday I went to the Intro class. This is going to be interesting because it's taught by a Lawyer and Paralegal team. The lawyer will be doing a lecture on the material from the book for the first half of class; for the other half of class, the paralegal will do other activities and talk about the profession. the great thing about this class is that the paralegal has about 25 years of experience and will be giving us practical advice on getting a job, and teaching us the skills we really need, not just stuff from a book. The hardest thing for me with both of these classes will be the tests. it will be a lot of memorization of vocabulary and terms; the midterms and finals will be like 100 questions! And the Estate Planning teacher is so pompous, he expects us to be able to get through the tests and quizzes as quickly as he can. I hope that I can keep up and not fail miserably!
So besides the fact that I am going to be extremely lost and challenged by both of my classes, I am challenged by stuff at home regularly. the daily upkeep of bills, cleaning, cooking, shopping, and keeping my husband happy despite the fact that he misses his country and family, hates his job, and wants to surf and play music. it's tough! I tried watching a few movies recently but was too distracted to really enjoy them. So with Netflix, I've decided to just rent tv shows (I'm into season 5 of Smallville now), and documentaries until i can really have time to enjoy a movie. It's so unlike me to not watch movies - but I just haven't found anything I can really concentrate on.
I'm trying to keep up on all of your posts, and do a bit of commenting when I can. of course I'm so behind on comments from like a month ago or so, but I will do my best to get through them. some of my friends are still missing in action - I guess life is just overwhelming (good or bad) for lots of people these days!
If i've missed anything important, like birthdays or great posts, please let me know. meanwhile, I'm off to clean my apartment and do some reading before my mom arrives tomorrow afternoon. I'm taking Monday and Tuesday off from work to be with her! then it's back to the grind.
oh the other good thing is that our local indoor pool just opened, and we've signed up for a 3-month pass (only $82 for a couple for three months - so cheap!), so I've gone twice already. the swimming will help me to both exercise and relax and deal with the stress of life. so there are positive things happening too:)
sorry this was so long - I put the breaks to make it easier to handle. thanks for reading, and please drop by and say hi because I miss you all:)
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Hi! Nice to hear from you again!
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take care!!
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where can you go for spoilers?
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aw, being busy is sometimes no fun!
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And I agree with the last comment.. book prices are ridiculous!
*hugs again* just for good measure.
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*hugs back*
take care!!
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*still waiting*
I love you sweetie!!
*hugs*
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It's good to hear from you again! *hugs!* ♥♥♥!!!
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thanks for the hugs! *hugs back extra tight*
sorry I haven't been around your LJ. are you doing okay?
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Books are terribly expensive; good job saving $70 on yours.
You're lucky having a local indoor pool nearby. We have a YMCA that just opened last month not too far from my house, but it costs about $100 a month for Greg, Natascha and me. I haven't decided whether or not to join, yet.
Have a wonderful visit with your mom.
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I love the pool so much - and at the cost, we can't lose! In fact, I'm on my way now for a nice nighttime swim before I study!
$100 a month doesn't seem like a lot for 3 people is it? it's sometimes worth it if you can make a serious effort to go about 2-3 times a week.
take care! oh and I did have a great time with my mom - will be posting about her visit soon!
take care!! *hugs*
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*hugs you back tight*