w00t w00t booyah

Kid's school issues? Because the old school *required* us to come in for a conference during my working hours, and *because* they required me to remove my kid from their school less than a week later (with NO effort on their part as agreed in that conference, that's one of many reasons why I fired them) - I've then had to take more time away from work to deal with testing, etc.

The running total of how much it's cost us? See icon above.

Literally, it's more than the tuition was for January.

I should be grateful. If this had come down last summer, it would have cost me my job. No, no really. Because I changed jobs and the new gig starts later - I can swing the late starts and working from home for old gig - temporarily. All of this, very temporary. I am grateful. People are understanding. To a point.

Oh, they want him to stay, so bad. They've got a guest teacher from Japan in his classroom right now and she adores Xander. And if I don't miss my guess, he's got a crush on her. It's very cute.

But things are disappearing from his backpack (not big things, not things he's missing overmuch), every teaching tool is a photocopy and he's the only Asian kid in the class.

If it's racist to notice race, I'm racist. Put that aside and let's consider something. Old nasty school was VERY Asian...one of their pros on the list. When I think back on the harping we got on how we weren't strict enough with him...and the fact we were one of the few Anglo parent pairs I knew of (I think I saw one other and they were Jewish)...I can put that on the back burner and let it simmer, maybe even forget it. All I can think of it the discussion about 'why wouldn't he want to please us MORE if?' that went on in that conference. Race was never discussed, you can't - that's against the law to discriminate, yanno - but I have to wonder. We're not Asian parents.

New school has Asian kids. Public school is nearly 100% Latino, and in his class right now he's the only one of him there is. He's come home talking about race since he started there - they notice. (Positive, but. It's a change.) Everything is in English and Spanish - that's not bad by itself, but it's noticeable. I'm really not up for another completely new language by immersion for kid - he's already done one, right? At this point, it's more for the parents - and if the kids are speaking Spanish so he doesn't know what they're saying about him? This is not learning the language anymore, is it?

And all I have to do is remember what George Takei said about being the only Asian he knew growing up. And how many kids came forward with that when Star Trek conventions came around - having other people like you around? It matters. A lot. It's not something I use as a hard-and-fast criteria, this is why we're doing THIS vs. THAT for that reason...but I ignore it at my peril, my privilege would make it easy to blow this one. I never had the experience of being the only one of me in my classes at school - EVERYONE looked like me. (You were Catholic? You were WEIRD.)

We're always going to have that one extra cog working, versus the other kids. Trying like hell not to make it noticeable or weigh it too heavily, but it's there.

@#$%! It's not like money is growing on trees around here. Why yes, I'd love to do this or that? What? Oh. Sorry. Can't.

That...is said a lot around here, and that's often the reason. The good news is that now I'm pass my probation - and sick time is available again. Three more months and I can use vacation time too.

Let's just hope I don't run out of either for stupid ass reasons like this again.

Got a text from Jim earlier today - his boss, the *other* lead tech?

Has had a massive, hemorrhagic stroke and is in ICU.

Yes, he just went to the funeral for the other one less than three weeks ago, who died of liver failure post Hep-C/liver transplant.

Neither of these men are retirement age, far from it.

Light the good stuff. Leave the good sake out for Coyote. Say a prayer.

It is what it is, and all that.

(My Mom? Still alive, still in the hospital. But improving. Her nurse that I spoke to at lunch? Tells me she has this one - 'she's one of us, and you know what that means.' Oh hell to the yes I do. We. Won't. Mess. Gotcha.)

I am sobbing inside for Jim. This is going to absolutely gut him.

And I also just re-upped my paid account for another year, so fear y'all. Why?

Well, for one thing - I'm not subjecting anyone reading this to advertising I have no control over. I'm not making a cent off them, and frankly this isn't worth those cents to read - so no, I'm not going to have ads on this blog, such as it is.

So there.

Google+ is really wearing very thin on the ground here. One, not keeping my interest and two? Sending email to people I didn't ask it to send it to? ARE YOU NUTS.

I've visited their offices here in town. I can do it again, this time without an invitation. Not. Happy.

Looking back, I have to come to the conclusion I interview *exceptionally* well, without trying hard. Or needing a book to tell me what answer to give to silly questions. I've gotten the last five jobs I interviewed for, one try - and I have no idea why I've got the unbroken record.

One, I am humble about what I interview for - I guess - if I don't feel it's a good fit, at some level, I don't apply. That doesn't mean I don't fit a lot of jobs - believe me, that's a goal. The more you can do, the more you will do, so add those skills as fast as you can and update at every opportunity. Are they all jobs that are AWESOME, FUN and AMAZING?

Not a chance. They pay money. I'm a real Edison that way. If it doesn't pay, I'm immediately onto the thing that does. That's my freedom, that's my sense of self, without the income - I'm at the mercy of everyone around me, and that's no bueno. I'll do anything. So maybe I'm motivated. You got me.

If I have time leftover, I make art. Until then, I pay bills and everyone leaves me alone. And I remain a valid human being.

I learned early - if I can't pay my own way, I get what other people think I deserve. And I was not born a wanted child. I like my independence. A lot. I have a very stiff neck and I don't kiss ass worth a toot, so I'd better do something, neh?

At least these days, I'm keeping jobs because I'm not the wife of a type I diabetic. No, really. There's a distinct difference these days. Don't have to like it. Do have to acknowledge it.

I'm not surprised at what's going down in Oakland. People have been saying the police department there is out of control and doing Nasty Things for years now, particularly to people of color. Well, now they're doing it to everyone in one place, just for staying in one place. Not surprised, but now you know.

You think people are going to stop now, you're nuts. They want a job, y'know. If they had someplace to make a living, they'd be there instead. Also just saying.

If you want to complain, fax them a complaint.

And the beat goes on.

And I also just re-upped my paid account for another year, so fear y'all. Why?

Well, for one thing - I'm not subjecting anyone reading this to advertising I have no control over. I'm not making a cent off them, and frankly this isn't worth those cents to read - so no, I'm not going to have ads on this blog, such as it is.

So there.

Google+ is really wearing very thin on the ground here. One, not keeping my interest and two? Sending email to people I didn't ask it to send it to? ARE YOU NUTS.

I've visited their offices here in town. I can do it again, this time without an invitation. Not. Happy.

Looking back, I have to come to the conclusion I interview *exceptionally* well, without trying hard. Or needing a book to tell me what answer to give to silly questions. I've gotten the last five jobs I interviewed for, one try - and I have no idea why I've got the unbroken record.

One, I am humble about what I interview for - I guess - if I don't feel it's a good fit, at some level, I don't apply. That doesn't mean I don't fit a lot of jobs - believe me, that's a goal. The more you can do, the more you will do, so add those skills as fast as you can and update at every opportunity. Are they all jobs that are AWESOME, FUN and AMAZING?

Not a chance. They pay money. I'm a real Edison that way. If it doesn't pay, I'm immediately onto the thing that does. That's my freedom, that's my sense of self, without the income - I'm at the mercy of everyone around me, and that's no bueno. I'll do anything. So maybe I'm motivated. You got me.

If I have time leftover, I make art. Until then, I pay bills and everyone leaves me alone. And I remain a valid human being.

I learned early - if I can't pay my own way, I get what other people think I deserve. And I was not born a wanted child. I like my independence. A lot. I have a very stiff neck and I don't kiss ass worth a toot, so I'd better do something, neh?

At least these days, I'm keeping jobs because I'm not the wife of a type I diabetic. No, really. There's a distinct difference these days. Don't have to like it. Do have to acknowledge it.

I'm not surprised at what's going down in Oakland. People have been saying the police department there is out of control and doing Nasty Things for years now, particularly to people of color. Well, now they're doing it to everyone in one place, just for staying in one place. Not surprised, but now you know.

You think people are going to stop now, you're nuts. They want a job, y'know. If they had someplace to make a living, they'd be there instead. Also just saying.

If you want to complain, fax them a complaint.

And the beat goes on.

Like most people, I didn't like hearing Steve Jobs had passed. 56 is way too young for anyone to thrown out of this game, and particularly when you are this good at it? Ridiculous. Apple has more money in it than Enron ever did, the products it makes are everywhere and who would question what Jobs did with Disney after Eisner? I mean, really.

The ubiquitous quote taken from that Commencement speech he gave at Stanford in 2005, you know the one - "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

Wow, that's a great speech. Wonder what the rest of it was like -

"...Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true."

Well, then.

Then the reports of the child labor abuses...that are actually worse this year over last...from factories making Apple products. Known problems, had been known for quite some time it would appear.

I hadn't known he was an adoptee - I also hadn't known he was a paternity denier as well. What I do know is that this was a very private person - for good reason. If you're going to be your own person, and damn the torpedoes - you're not going to please everyone.

But to imply that everyone gets old and useless and be grateful Death will get rid of all that?

Is it schadenfreude to note that he stopped working only a few weeks before he died? That he got a really good lesson in Death stealing a vibrant, successful lifespan before he was kicked out of it? I hope so.

Death is a damn thief, at any age. Aging beyond egocentricity isn't wrong. You have the right to follow your heart at any part of your lifespan, not just at the start of it.

So noted by the widow of a electrical electronic engineer who programmed for Voyager at 14 - and died at 36.

Bah.

You know, I might be more creative if I wasn't always looking over my shoulder for the oncoming traffic bearing down on me.

Just saying.

You know, I might be more creative if I wasn't always looking over my shoulder for the oncoming traffic bearing down on me.

Just saying.

My one free space the whole year? That one day off where both of my boys are already booked?

GONE.

So, yeah - I'll be here, right where you left me at work. Just another day. Etc.

(The upside is that I now have a free floating holiday to schedule between now and the end of the year. I'll take it.)

Are you well-versed in desktop support, Windows and Mac? STRONG like the biggest dog on the block? Know your way around a network?

I got an opening, and you'd be working with me.

Verra small company, plenty of lulz, but. Between See's Candy and a huge Target. Come on.

You want, message me and have your resume ready. Yes, this is full-time, benefits available, the whole nine yards.

(Also, if you have a friend who programs RPG on the AS/400 platform? Bring her with you.)

Feel free to cross-post - thanks all!

Are you well-versed in desktop support, Windows and Mac? STRONG like the biggest dog on the block? Know your way around a network?

I got an opening, and you'd be working with me.

Verra small company, plenty of lulz, but. Between See's Candy and a huge Target. Come on.

You want, message me and have your resume ready. Yes, this is full-time, benefits available, the whole nine yards.

(Also, if you have a friend who programs RPG on the AS/400 platform? Bring her with you.)

Feel free to cross-post - thanks all!