Doh!

Grr! I am feeling like such a failure. I was doing so good at not biting my nails and one stressful evening with Shaylee and they are gone. Just like that. I am not feeling very confident that I can stick with anything right now. I failed at losing weight and keeping it off as I gain all the weight I lost with Weight Watchers and am back to 140 lbs, the same I weighted when I first started in November of 2007. I failed at sticking with exercising. Even when I had the gym membership I went fewer and fewer times till I wasn't going at all. It is scaring me since I am enrolling in school. What is I don't have the willpower to stay motivated? Even my little study course I made myself to prepare for my temperment test flopped two weeks into it. About the only thing I have stuck with is quitting smoking. I am feeling low and out of control of so many things in my life....work is frustrating me because nothing seems to work properly day after day, Shaylee is being so defiant that its driving me crazy......sigh. I think I need a glass of wine, LOL!

GULP! Test Day!

Today was my placement testing for Edison State College. I was really nervous going into it. I just knew the math section was going to be a problem for me. Its not a pass or fail test, but an accurate measure of academic skills in reading, sentence, arithmetic, and elementary algebra, all done on the computer. Its all multiple choice (thank goodness!) and only certain portions of the math allow you to use a calculator which would pop up on the screen during those times.

It took me 57 minutes to complete the test. And I did really, really well in the reading (97%) and sentences (99%) but my arithmetic and algebra scores were the complete opposite. I scored a 31% in the elementary algebra and 35% in the arithmetic. The high scores in the reading and sentences allowed me to fly right into the college required composition classes but the math section raised a red flag for remedial classes. Based on my scores, the advisor I met with after the test said it would take three remedial math classes just to get to the first required math course. And those remedials did not count towards my college credits. Gulp!

The advisor suggested that I retake the math portion of the class. I can retake the test in 31 days from the date of the last test. If I score better then I can cut one or more of the remedials which would be beneficial. I decided that was the best bet rather than taking the remedials as part of the SOAR (Student Opportunities for Achievement and Rewards) which is designed to help students become better learners. So I got yet another test date, March 27th.

The advisor also went over the college general education requirements. I had thought I would be applying for a Associates in Science for Business Administration and Management until I read that the Associates in Science is a two year program to prepare for entry into employment. The actual degree I am aiming for is the Associates in Arts for General Business which offered to freshman and sophomores intending to enter baccalaureate programs (which is what I am leaning more to).

With the AA in Business comes the well rounded assortment of subjects, even some that I would rather not have to do such as natural sciences (which I chose "Man and the Environment" and "South Florida Environment" and social sciences ( which I chose "World Civilization 1825 to Present") since they sounded the most interesting among all the other unrelated-to-my-job courses offered. But since I am enrolling in the summer semester and that schedule isn't posted till March 16th, I had to wait to get a better idea of which classes I am going to take and when. A lot also depends on my placement retest. They have a freeze on the registration process when you do not score the minimum grade in any portion of the test. My low math scores put a freeze on my registration process so until I retest, I can't register anyways.

So its totally official. I am a college student. I even got the school photo ID card now to prove it. Hmm, I wonder if that means I can get into the movies under "student" discount! LOL!

Shaylee's 1st Day at Sunday School and Her New Bed

Today was Shaylee and my first day at our new church- New Day Christian Church. We arrived and Shaylee immediately took to the other children in the children's area. So well in fact that she barely noticed me so I, with a deep breath, asked her if I could go or if she needed me to stay. Surprisingly she said I could go so I kissed and hugged her and attended the service.

The service was really relaxed. They sung contempary Christian songs and have the lyrics on TVs, kinda like karoke. I amazed myself at how I seemed to know all the words and melodies even though I had never heard some of them (some I heard on a CD infomerical). I really felt at ease...a little emotional even. I found myself a little choked up at the pastor speaking. I even knew a few girls from high school that attend.

After the 1 1/2 hr service I picked up Shaylee from the "New Bees" class. The woman who was supervising the room, also a girl I knew from highschool, said Shaylee had a little meltdown about 30 to 45 minutes after I left but after offering a snack of pretzels, she soon calmed down. I was relieved. This was the first time Shaylee has EVER been left with someone that wasn't a relative. Ever. It was a very big step for her- and a good experience to prepare her for preschool. I have decided to take her every Sunday we are able.

After dropping her off at GG's for the afternoon, I purchased her new big girl bed. She has previously had her crib mattress on the floor but I was getting tired of the amount of pet hari that gathered around it and felt Shaylee would probably sleep better if she was elevated off the floor more. So I rearranged our bedroom to accomadate the new toddler bed which involed a major cleaning project of our closet.

I even bought some Disney Princess sheets and a pretty pink blanket to go with it. So we are hoping the novelty of having a new bed with special princess bedding will promote Shaylee to sleeping on her own instead of with us. Two and a half hours later, I finally had it build, made and ready to surprise her. She is such a big girl now!

Strategic Shopping 101

One of the other really great finds I have found this week is a site called CouponMom.com. Its a site created by a woman named Stephanie Nelson, a mother of two who launched the site years ago to show other shoppers that weekly sales and savings are available and how to "strategically shop" for the best deals. The web site's database tracks what's on sale at your local grocery store and matches it with what coupons are available. She suggests that you match up the weekly specials with coupons to increase your savings even more than you would had you just used the coupons whenever. She teaches you how to make a price book in which you track the cost of your commonly purchased items to see what is considered the lowest price (sale) and what is considered regular or higher priced. That way when you see a special on that item, you can see just how much of a saving it really is. Then you would use that opportunity to stock up.

Here is an explanation of how Strategic Shopping works....

Lets say you track your most commonly purchased items for four weeks. You are able to see which week you bought that item for. Now you know what a good deal looks like. If you notice that you have bought cereal for $4.49 the first week, $3.50 the second week, $1.99 the third week, and $4.49 the fourth- you can see that the regular price or highest price for your cereal is $4.49. A deal on the cereal would be any thing less that than obviously.

Usually it can take a few months of just recording what you have spent (or what you see the price listed as, in case you don't need to buy that item every week) so you can look for sale trends. The idea is to know when the price hits its lowest, in this case $1.99 for the cereal, and stocking up by purchasing four to six weeks worth of that item. When you take this approach, by the time you run out of that item, it will likely be at its lowest again! Just in time to stock up again.

Of course not everyone has the storage space to do this, any many items would expire before you can stock up so even if you purchase the items at a sale price, such as the time when the cereal is $3.50, you still win at saving money, even if its only a dollar.

Then there is the coupons. Many people, I included, never used coupons because they find that the store's generic brand is less expensive than the brand name item with the coupon. Yes, in many cases this is true...when the brand name item is at its highest (the $4.49 cereal for example). A Strategic Shopper uses coupons when the item is at its lowest.

So back to that cereal. Let's say you have a manufactures coupon for $1.00 off. If you use it when the cereal is its regular (highest) price, it would cost you $3.49. Not bad. But if you use it when it's at its lowest, $1.99, then you would be purchasing a $4.49 cereal for $.99! Now that's smart shopping! And if you happen to stock up on the coupons and the cereal...you could have four boxes for what you would pay for one. If you ate a box a week, by the time you were out of cereal again, it could be at $1.99 again!

Sure, Strategic Shopping takes a little more time, a little more planning on your part, but the benefits in saving money is always worth it to me! Coupons can be found in many places now- not just the Sunday paper. Many stores have those "blinkies"- those little machines you see in the aisles that spit out coupons, online and in/on the actual products themselves. If you know you always buy a particular item, you could grab more than one of those "blinkies" coupons, or contact the manufacture's website and get coupons there. Thats how I got my Juicy Juice coupons. I went to the manufacture's website and printed out two coupons right online.

So tonight I get to try my first attempt at Strategic Shopping. I got a flyer for Albertson's in the mail on what I call "Junk Mail Tuesday" because that's the day I get flyers and well...junk mail. Or so I thought. Now I realize Tuesdays are "Jackpot Tuesdays" because most stores start their sales on Wednesday so the Tuesday flyers are sent out to entice people to shop at those stores. This Albertson's flyer's prices were effective for Wednesday 2/18 till Tuesday 2/24 only...and they are having a big Buy One Get One sale. That's when I saw Juicy Juice listed as part of the BOGO sale. We go through a lot of juice for Shaylee between our house and my grandmother's house and Juice Juice is one of our favorites since it's 100% juice. I have those online coupons for $1 off any two Juicy Juice products! So I got two bottles for $2.79! Pretty good!

Another wonderful cost saver was switching my monthly birth control pills to generic. My insurance changed so my original prescription that used to cost me $20 went up to $40! So I contacted my ob/gyn and had him switch me to a different brand in the generic form and was happy when the pharmacist rang me up for just $10! I just saved $30 a month! Sweet! Now I am giddy with excitement to see what other things I can save money on!

Frugal Momma To Be

No I am not pregnant. Don't let the title confuse you.

I am all about saving money now. After Nils, Shaylee and I moved in with my parents and brother in a three bedroom/2 bathroom house for almost 10 months now, we are really feeling the urge to get out and into our own house. So we upped the ante and increased how much money is direct deposited into our house savings account from our paychecks and have buckled down some as of this month. Don't get me wrong, I love my family and don't mind living with them, but we are really craving our own space and privacy. I want Shaylee to be able to have her own room again, to play undisturbed and house all her toys in one room. I want to have all the cupboard, fridge, and freezer space all for my own things, to be able to buy in bulk again, without compromising space for anyone elses stuff. I want Nils to be able to pee with the bathroom door open again. Okay, maybe not that last one, LOL! But we want our own home. I want the housewarming party, deciding on paint colors together and a framed photo of us as a family in front of our first home with a "SOLD" sign.

I will admit, I have never been very good with money. I was never one to go on a shopping spree but I have been known to buy "little things here and there". Sadly, even the "little things" add up. Quick. Even last night I went a little overboard. I went into Target for peanut butter, Pull-ups, cheese sauce for my Mexican Lasagna recipe for dinner, and tampons and walked out with those items plus a new vintage tee for myself ($12.99), travel coffee mug for myself ($2.50), and Elmo bath fizzies for Shaylee ($6.99). It was only seven items but it totaled just under $50. And most of it was not NEEDED, just WANTED. My name is Shawna, and I am a compulsive buyer. But that's it. I am turning over so many new leaves lately to save money. I already quit getting my nails done to save me over $40 a month, Nils has quit smoking so that saves us a boat load of money already, and now I have a whole new outlook on the money we spend on groceries.

Nils and I love food. We love to cook. But sometimes our recipes, as tasty as they are, sometimes just don't fit into our budget. I'm not talking caviar and champagne or anything like that, but what we could easily drop into the preperation for one meal could be enough to buy groceries for two or three. Its fun but just not practical. So I joined an awesome site called Menus 4 Moms.com. With that I found helpful articles and tips on how to save money on food cost. And I joined (for $4.95 a month) a monthly menu Food Ministry mailing list that provides recipes and a grocery list for five meals a week for a family of four that is suppose to help you save money each week on groceries by having you make the most of your ministry food box from Angel Food Ministries. They menus each month with meals including as many of the published box items in as possible. The menu will be sent by the 7th of the month in preparation for the food box pickup dates so I have time to plan my meals out.

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. The program began in 1994 with 34 families in Monroe, Georgia (between Atlanta and Athens), and has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of families every month across 35 states. Angel Food Ministries crosses denominational lines and has spread the good news of the gospel of Christ through salvation tracts that are placed in each food order.

Angel Food is available in a quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $30 per unit. Each month's menu is different than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60. Comparison shopping has been done across the country in various communities using a wide range of retail grocery stores and has resulted in the same food items costing from between $42 and $78.

Generally, one unit of food assists in feeding a family of four for about one week or a single senior citizen for almost a month. The food is all the same high quality one could purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand items, no damaged or out-dated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe.

Also offered are specialty boxes such as steaks, chicken and pork. Many participants in this bonus program appreciate the expanded choices. Additionally, there is no limit to the number of units or bonus foods an individual can receive, and there are no applications to complete or qualifications to which participants must adhere. Angel Food Ministries also participates in the U.S. Food Stamp program, using the Off-Line Food Stamp Voucher system.

They are truly a blessing in a box. What's more is the church that I have chosen to join is the host for my area's Angel Food Ministries! I simply stop by on the order dates listed on their wwebsite and place my order or mail in the order form.

This month's pick up is March 28th and the regular box menu is truly a bargin:

• 1.5 lb ribeye steaks (4 x6oz)
• 3 lbs split chicken breast
• 1.5 lbs Country Fried Steak patties (6 x4oz)
• 1 lb pkg 80/20 ground beef
• 1 lb fully cooked meatballs
• 1 lb mild italian sausage
• 12 oz deli sliced ham
• 1 lb California blend (I am assuming this is salad?)
• 1 lb green beans
• 20 oz shoestring fries
• 1 lb pasta
• 28 oz marinara sauce
• 21 oz condensed soup (makes 5 servings)
• 1 lb pinto beans
• 32 oz 2% shelf stable milk (dry milk I am assuming?)
• 1 dozen eggs
• and a dessert

For $30. WOW!

Can you believe that! We had been spending $3.99 a pound for chicken alone! Meat gets expensive thats for sure! Nils and I are a family of 2 and a half and this is suppose to feed a family of four for a week, that means it could stretch us out two weeks of dinners- for $30!!!! We have a deep freezer so we could probably stretch this one box even longer if we fill in some nights with conveince foods or leftovers. And my Food Ministry Meal Planning susbcription from Menus4Moms.com will make the most of my box (and give me ideas because I was already stumped with what I was gonna do with a pound of pinto beans!). My mom liked the idea so much she is probably gonna place an order too. I can't wait! This is a really, really good thing for us! Its our first step into living a more frugal living to allow us to have more money to save for that house.

I am really curious to see just how much money we save using all these tips, food ministry, and coupons. I might need to keep a log to see just how much money we saved in a month's time or so. You know, compare what our average grocery bill used to be and what it is now that we are a bit more wise. I'll keep you posted!

I Discovered Butternut Squash and Cauliflower!

I recently made two wonderful food discoveries this week! I found that I like cauliflower and butternut squash, at least prepared as described in these two recipes. I found them in an issue of Parents magazine in an article about how to get your toddler to try and enjoy more vegetables. So I tried them out, hoping that Shaylee and myself could grow to enjoy more healthy meals including vegetables. I was pleasantly surprised that I like them as much as I did! They are definately going in the Laufer Tried and True Family Family Favorites cookbook!

ROASTED VEGGIE MEDLEY

Mix 1/2 lb tiny potatoes, quartered, and 1 cup small butternut squash pieces. Toss with 2 tbsp each balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil; roast, uncovered at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes. Add red bell pepper pieces and roast 10 minutes more, or until tender. Garnish with 1 tbsp fresh thyme (I had to used dry thyme because I couldn't find fresh thyme at the time....hahaha, I just realized that rhymed!)

CAULIFLOWER POPPERS ( I altered the recipe I found a bit and changed the name)

1 head of cauliflower

3 Tbsp. (45mL) olive oil

2 Tbsp. (30mL) Mrs. Dash® Table Blend

2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450°F (220°C). Cut out and discard cauliflower core and thick stems. Trim remaining cauliflower into florets the size of popcorn. Toss thoroughly in a bowl with olive oil and Mrs. Dash® Table Blend and parmesan cheese. Spread cauliflower on a sheet pan and roast for approximately 30 minutes, or until nicely browned (that's the carmelization process converting the dormant natural sugars into sweetness). Turn three or four times during roasting. The browner the florets, the sweeter they will taste. Serve immediately.

Our 2 Yr Anniversay and Valentine's Day Celebrations

Since Nils' and my 2 year wedding anniversary fell on a Wednesday, we waited to celebrate it and have our romantic Valentine's Day dinner on Friday . I have to give Nils credit. This was probably the first time I have ever left all the planning to him. He jokingly calls me his "events coordinator" because I tend to be the one that plans everything.

But anyhow, this time it was all left up to him. I was told nothing more than to dress nice and be ready for dinner reservations at 7:30. I was pleasantly surprised that he took me to Hemingways, a very nice and classy seafood restaurant. I had champagne, a very rare treat and he sipped a mojito. We ordered appetizers, dinner, AND dessert, also a rare treat. I was more surprised to hear that a movie was to follow- "Confessions of A Shop-A-Holic"! My husband was going to take me to a chick-flick!!! By that time I was getting groggy from a full belly and having to work all day so I thanked him and took a rain check on the movie. I am not good in dark theaters when I am tired and I really wanted to see that movie and not fall asleep!

So we got coffee and hot cocoa at Starbucks, wandered around Best Buy for a bit, then went home to retire for the evening. Our little party girl, Shaylee, was still up when we got back around 10:30 so we had Family Movie Time in bed, watching "I, Robot". I, as expected, passed out. Told ya I was tired!

On Saturday for Valentine's Day, since Shaylee did not have Kindermusik class, we took her to the Imaginarium Hands On Science Museum in Ft Myers. It has exhibits such as a touch tank with horseshoe crabs and sting rays, sea urchins and cucumbers and hermit crabs; a wind tunnel that lets you experience the force winds of a hurricane; a dinosaur fossil digging box and more. I remember going to the Imaginarium years and years ago for a class field trip and I have to say it is nothing now like I remembered. And I mean that in a negative way.

The place was....well....kinda lame. Some of the best exhibits were out of order- like the one were you can touch a cloud, and others were nothing more than a bunch of magnets on a table. Shaylee liked it okay, I suppose. I think most of the exhibits were a little too advanced for her. Her favorite part was the play area. She had a little melt down when it was finally time to go, but over all it was a pleasant family experience.

After the disappointment of the Imaginarium, we had lunch at Hardees and then went over to the Fleamasters Fleamarket. I love the fleamarket! Nils bought me a very pretty dress for work for only $12!

When we came home we have a wonderful surprise waiting for Shaylee- a box from her Grandma Nea and Poppa Ed! All the way from Sonoma, California. Inside was a Snoopy stuffed animal with chocolates and a little purse Grandma Nea crafted out of....get this...recycled plastic shopping bags! And some of Nils' sister's flannel pajama from when she was little, lined the inside. How neat! We also got a lovely Valentines greeting.

We may not have celebrated Valentines Day the traditional way but I think ours was a lot better.

Grow Baby Grow!

I have been a nail biter since I was probably about 3 years old. My mom has tried everything to get me to stop- using bitter tasting potions and lotion, but nothing has been able to stop me. As a result, my nails are thin and flexible. I can literally fold them....when they ever get long enough to clear my nail beds. And the only time that happens is after wearing acrylic tips or other artificial nails. But even then, the acrylic continues to weaken them. I have read that by having acrylic or other artificial nails hinders your natural nail's ability to grow properly. Sure they grow fast since I am not able to nibble at them, but having artificial nails is like having a cast on your arm- when it's removed your skin is white and your arm is weak. Acrylic tips do the same thing- make them more weak. Plus having your nails done is hella expensive. It was costing me $20- 25 every two weeks to have fills done by the time I applied the gratuity. In a month that is about $45! In a year, that is over $480! Do you know what I could buy with $480??? So I decided its time to let them grow. No more biting. I will have to keep you all updated on my progress!

I went to Sally Beauty Supply and got the necessary tool for doing my own at-home manicures:

• Super Nail Alpha Hydroxy Cuticle Remover and Rejuvenator:normally $4.99, brought home and realized the cashier forgot to ring me up- so FREE! Whoops!
• Nail Life Nail Revitalizer-Formaldehyde Free formula: one of the highest reviewed nail treatment for problem nails that are weak, split, are thin, cracked or peeling; normally $7.99, bought for $7.49 with my Sally Beauty Club card (which I bought a year membership for $5)
• Haken Essential Fragrance Cuticle oil in vanilla almond scent: another top rated product, smells amazing (there are about 5 or 6 different fragrances to choose from); normally $4.99, bought for $3.99
• Beauty Secrets Implements six piece profession manicure kit with stainless steel cuticle nipper, cuticle pusher, toenail clippers, metal cuticle pusher/nail cleaner, salon filing board, and stainless steel cuticle scissors: found that the cuticle nipper alone cost about $14- I got this whole kit for $12.99 with my beauty club car- normally it would have been $14.99!

Preparing For College

I have taken this whole college preparation very seriously lately. A co-worker of mine is currently working on her bachelors, already successfully completing her associates in business management with the help of Comcast's tuition reimbursement program. She can confirm that the reimbursement program works well. She has even been so wonderful as to have given me her old "Basic College Mathematics" text/ workbook. It has certainly helped!

I went so far as to break up the 10 chapters into the 12 or so weeks until the first day of class for the summer semester at Edison. I originally got the book from her to help study for the placement test I have coming up on the 23rd, but realized it is completely impractical to assume I can learn all of that information in about 2 weeks. This text book was designed to be spread over a full semester after all; most semesters are 15 weeks long! So I decided to just take the test- I get what I get, it is what it is. If I don't understand something in the test, I will just do my best from what I can remember and not stress too much about it. The whole purpose of a placement test to be ensure that I am placed in a class that is based around my current knowledge.

I think that is where math and high school went so wrong. In high school, you get pushed up a grade level each year unless you fail. You could have a whole year of "D's" but as long as you pass you are good to go to the next grade level whether you completely comprehend what you were expected to learn or not. That was my problem. I didn't fully understand what I was already learning, yet I still went further and further. I graduated without really understanding what I just spent 4 years of high school working on. Heck, I think it might have started in middle school (AKA junior high to some of you). I blame myself to, for not applying myself to trying to learn it either. If I only knew then what I know now....

By anyways....

I have an advantage to having the book is now, for the next 12 weeks, I can be learning what I will probably be learning in whatever math class I am placed in. My advantage is that the information will be fresher in my mind than some that have not seen some of this material since high school (for me it will be about 9 years!) or haven't used for about as long. Anyhow, since the book, as stated before, is suppose to be broken up into 15 weeks and I only have two, I jumped ahead a bit in the book, skipped the first few subjects since they were very easy, even for me. Right now I am on Chapter 1, Part 5 which is "Multiplication with Whole Numbers". Basically its multiplication and its various properties (like the distribution property: if a, b, and c represent any three whole numbers then a(b+c)= a(b)+a(c)- that kinda thing). Its been so long since I have done any math without the help of a calculator that even some of the regular multiplication table is a bit difficult. And doing long multiplication, like trying to figure a problem like 8295 x 93 for example, sure was easier when it was just a matter of typing seven buttons into a calculator!

I worked my little study course up so that each day, I work two parts of the chapter. For example, today I will be focusing on Chapter 1 parts 5 and 6. This was I work the whole text book right up to the first day of class. Each part is only a few pages long- its working the problems in the book that take a long time. The book also came with a CD ROM with additional "tests" I can take as well as has a video of a professor explaining each part in detail. So if I get stuck on how to do something, I can always review the CD ROM and get a better understanding of what I am to do to solve the problem. Working thru this text book is also preparing me for what to expect when class does start as far as time management is concerned. I have dedicated myself to work on this just as I will dedicate myself to work on my actual lessons.

I am also really grateful to have Nils backing me up. He is pretty good in math, so I know I can go to him for help and he is patient with me. Maybe I can convince him to drill me with some good ol' mulitiplication flash cards just like in grade school! But at least I know he won't laugh at me or think I am stupid or anything. And to further supplement what I am learning, I found this great website called www.math-drills.com that has lots of printable worksheets complete with an answer key to provide me with more problems to test my knowledge.

And to further encourage me, Nils has agreed to buy me a Edison State College sweatshirt for Valentine's Day. I know, I know, it doesn't really sound romantic but I really want it. I have this old gray hooded sweatshirt I got as a hand-me-down when I was living in New York that says "City Tech College" which was a technical college in the city (obvious, right?) where my ex-boyfriend's mom and step-dad worked as professors. I love that sweatshirt- even if I never attended the school itself. Its worn, the pouch pocket is falling off and there are a few stains up the sleeves, but I still wear it with a great pair of comfy jeans. Well, this Edison sweatshirt is just like it but I will actually be able to say I attend when I wear it!

Change is In the Air!

With me starting my college education this summer, Nils having stopped smoking, and Shaylee breaking through into the world of potty training, change is in the air. And with that I have redone my blog- for the better I think. I personally LOVE it!!! Too freaking cute! So enjoy the changes you see here on my blog and those you read about from here on out!

Math Whiz I Am Not

OMG. I have completely forgotten just about everything I every learned in school as far as math is concerned. I am kinda freaking out a bit here. The reason is that on February 23rd, I take my college placement test. That's right. You are looking at a new college student. I have decided to take advantage of my employer's tuition reimbursement program and enrolled in Edison State School. Well, I haven't exactly enrolled. I have to send in my application and application fee next week....but I already applied for federal student aid and got my placement test date.

Anyhow, I pulled up a few examples of what would be on the test, little practice tests. I did okay in the reading and comprehension sections but boy, oh, boy...math. YUCK! I did not get one single answer right in the algebra section and got maybe one or two right in the other math section.

I have a feeling I am going to be in the very bottom math class. I don't mind so much, that's probably best, but it means that its going to take that much longer to get my degree since I will have to work twice (triple?) the time on my math credits to make it to the math courses that are required for the degree. Put it this way, if its adding or subtracting I am okay, multiplication and division are harder (forget about long division!) and I am clueless when it comes to fractions or those problems with the numbers with integers?? Is that the word I am looking for??

Anyhow, I just know I am going to be a wreck on test day. I found a Developmental Algebra workbook my friend Peggy gave me years ago, but all it contains are problems (more mini tests) but doesn't teach you HOW to do the problems.

Looking back to my high school years, I was pretty bad in math then too. I took the same basic algebra class twice because I failed it the first time. I think I was the only senior in a class of freshmen. Okay, perhaps that is an exaggeration. I might of been one in three seniors in a class full of freshmen. I almost couldn't graduate because I didn't have enough math credits. I passed the class, and made it to graduation, by getting a "D" on my final exam. I literally graduated by the skin of my teeth.

I think the difficulties I had in math alone was what made me decide, up until now, that I had no interest in going to college. I guess I figured if I couldn't pass the math I was given in free public school, there was no sense in wasting someone else's money to fail math in college. But now I realize its important to have a college education. And who can pass up their employer paying their way? LOL!

Magic Kingdom Pics- FINALLY!

Best viewed from bottom up- Blogger is weird were it puts your last uploaded pic first...should be the other way around but oh well...enjoy!!