Way to welcome the new guy. But I am guessing you know him.

Yeah, I've known him for quite a few years.

So you are saying that he's used to perverse, wildly disturbing humor? That works.

Pretty much.

Way to welcome the new guy. But I am guessing you know him. Her. I swear I read the profile... Did I mention the dazed and confused?

I'm a him, but no big.

Oops, I should hello as well. Hi, SonusExMachina.

Hi Cass! Wasabi? (What's up?)

So you are saying that he's used to perverse, wildly disturbing humor? That works.

One could say that I'm used to it. The question to NoiseDesign is, of course, where are the penguins right now? And the nun? >)

Good night all!

Are you saying that ended with the end of school?

Alas, no. Drew's still quite patient with my as-yet-unmedicated tigger-ness. Thanks. Cheers to you, too!

Oh, dear, Em. Sorry I went to bed early and wasn't available last night. Poor you! I hope today is better.

Raq, I have no good advice, but I get the whole need to have adult contact, and I think that outweighs the money issue. Have you made a pros/cons list? I mean, it sounds like you have, at least in your head. But, sometimes seeing it on paper helps.

I should be writing my piece for writing workshop that's in a couple hours. But, I don't feel like it.

Raq, is working part time an option at all? Not a solution, exactly, but might alleviate some of the stress?

Raq, I go back and forth between working at home and working at the office. I find that when I work home there is less incentive to get dressed, or even shower some days. Going outside to work gives a bit more structure to my day. That whole adult contact is good too.

We did without an outside office for several years. Everyone enjoyed it for a while. Then even my most non-social programmer said he felt a bit like a hermit. We have more of a flexible system now. We mostly go to the office, but stay home when we need to for whatever reason.

Nanny sharing is good for the kids. Don't hesitate to bring up the subject with other families.

{{Emily}} I don't envy you. For the record, whenever I visited Brendon's classroom it appeared to me to be wildly out of control. Kids laughing and talking and walking around. The gifted team seemed to strive for a balance. Most of the time they gave the class a lot of freedom, but when they were lecturing or testing they cracked the whip. A time for being more relaxed and a time for being serious.

You will find your own way. There is no shortcut to experience. What works for one teacher won't work for another. How lucky we all are to have our support system here.

I treasured my 1st real math teacher. 7th grade. Sister Miriam Anthony. She made the mystery fun. I tried without success to contact her as an adult. Teachers rock.

School sucks.

The Bursar's office "changed" their system this year on paying excess checks. It used to be that on the first day of classes you'd get a $750 check to put towards books and living expenses till the excess checks were cut several weeks later. Well, they're not doing that anymore. Now you just have to wait till excess checks are cut. Oh, but you can go pick up a "book card" that you can use in the school bookstore to buy your books. That's not helpful if you're trying to save money by buying your books elsewhere. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

I mean, it's fine. I'll get all the money eventually. But, it's a good thing I wasn't counting on that money.

My nanny makes $11/hour.

Two bucks an hour more caring for ONE child than I get being responsible for two to four developmentally disabled adults whose mental ages range from 3ish to teenaged (one with New! Added Dementia!), some of whom have serious behavior challenges including program plans to restrain them when necessary, and mental illnesses. Do nannies get paid this much in the States, cuz I think I need a new career.