Flute's Moʻolelo

Wow, it has been a long time since I've posted anything. I'm still kicking, so I guess that's a good thing.

Can't remember if I ever told anyone this, but I am currently a Para at one of the local elementary schools here. I work with 2nd - 5th graders on a daily basis. Well, on Friday, in the 5th grade class, the teacher had the student do some free writing. They could write about anything as long as they wrote something. I didn't really have much to do other than help with the occasional spelling issue. So, I decided to write something too. This just came to me suddenly and it end up being really profound. I read it to the class, and the teacher and students all praised me for it. This is after most of the class had written and shared (some I feel more profound than mine).

I guess I was wrong. Ah well.

A lot has happened since I last posted. I am no longer a manager, but am much healthier than I was. I still work at the same place, but I have less responsibility. I don't get paid as much, which can be a problem, but I get paid for every second I work instead of working more hours than I get paid for.

I'm actually looking into going back to teaching. I keep getting the run-around though, while trying to get information on renewing my certificate. Hopefully, I'll know something soon.

In other news, I watching the first Iron Man two days after seeing Avengers: Endgame for the second time. No spoilers, but damn. Sure puts that first movie into a different light, and really shows how far Tony had gone in the 11 years since. Wow!

I also have a lot more thoughts about Endgame and related subjects if anyone wants to talk. I haven't really had the chance to really discuss it with anyone. I had this really crazy dream after seeing it too. Kind of a what if/alternate universe thing. My brain can be a very interesting, and sometimes scary place. ;-P

Well, that's it for now. I'll try and be around more, and I'll definitely converse with anyone that replies. One advantage to not being a manager anymore, is I have more free time.

Apparently, I haven't posted anything since February. Wow! I didn't realize it had been that long. Well, not much has changed. Things are still hectic and stressful, but hopefully things will be looking up soon.

Summer has not been kind to us. Hubby has a bulging disc in his neck that he will be having surgery on in late September. I have messed up my right wrist something bad, and I can't lift anything over a few pounds with it. Makes things difficult at work, but they've helped me out there with my duties. At least they are being accommodating. The doctors and insurance are another story. I can't afford to get an MRI, so the doctor won't even look at me. I've basically been in limbo for almost 2 months. It's gotten a little better, but still not well enough. I wish I knew exactly what was wrong with it. Aren't doctors supposed to help/make you feel better?

I'll let you know how things are going once I know more. Next obstacle, hubby's surgery. If all goes well, he won't have anymore pain and numbness. *crosses fingers*

Long time, no post. My life has been hectic and really I haven't had much of a life since we moved back to Louisiana. I work mostly nights with my job, and I sleep for a good bit of the the day. I'm hardly ever on my computer anymore, and when I am, it's only for a few minutes.

I used to really like my job, but now it's just a never ending string of frustration and annoyance. They switched general managers from another restaurant in the franchise, and we went from being the rest in the franchise, to possibly one of the worst. I just wish TPTB would realize the issue already and take care of her. Oops... did I say her? LOL I just hope a remedy is found soon, or corporate may close us down, or we may all get fired. I just don't want to get in trouble or go down for something I didn't do. I guess we'll see.

I'm hoping that I will be able to spend more time online in the ear future. I've felt so out of the loop lately, and it's been a bit disconcerting. I'll at least try to get on here and post more. That's about all the time I have for now. Hope to be back soon.

Well, the Photobucket bomb finally hit me. Both my journals probably look crazy now, but especially my LJ. At least my user icons and gifs are stored at my LJ. Everything else is on Photobucket. If I had the time I'd go and try and remedy that, but I don't. I have a job now!

About that... I am an assistant manager at one of the local Zaxby's restaurants. I've worked mostly nights so far, which is from either 5 or 6 pm to 3-ish am. Luckily, I was off today, and work days for the next 2 days. I close Saturday night, and I'm off on Sunday. I really like the job, but I am exhausted all the time. I'm hoping that I won't have as many nights on a regular basis. It's really draining.

That's it for now. I've had a long day, but I got to hang out with family, which was great. I have to get up early in the morning, so I better sign off for now. Later!

As the title says, we've finished the move. Now, we're just trying to unpack. I didn't realize how much stuff we had. At least we have room for it now, instead of having to put some in storage. This is the first time since we got here on Tuesday that I've had to time to really relax and get online.

Also, I have a job! It's for Zaxby's (where I was working back in Mississippi), but this time, I'll be a manager. I'm a bit nervous, but feel that this will be a great opportunity for me. I like the other managers I've met, and I think I'll like it at this store. Wish me luck!

Well, that's it for now. I'll update again soon.

Well, New Jersey isn't going to happen. We just couldn't afford it, and we kept hitting roadblock after roadblock. It just got to be too much. So, like the title says, that door has closed.

There seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, though. We are moving back home, sorta. We will going back to North Louisiana, about halfway between both our families. Hubby is going to complete his teacher certification that he started years ago before he started his Doctorate, and it looks like he'll be getting money from the school there to do it. Our moving timeline will be the same, but we will only be going 3 hours away.

This is a huge relief, even though it kinda feels like we're stepping back in time. The school is where hubby started his undergrad back in 1995. The first time around for him was not a good experience, but most of the people that gave him grief back then have moved on.

I feel, in my heart, that this will be a positive move forward for us. It won't be as big as an adventure as New Jersey would have been, but I think this could be a good first step for something else later on down the line.

The hits keep coming. I swear there is some conspiracy going on. Someone really doesn't want us to succeed. We are determined to make things work, though. We will move to New Jersey if it kills us.

In an effort to try and get more help, my mom has revamped the GoFundMe page. It is now much more serious and touts hubby's accomplishments and what we hope to accomplish. Any help is appreciated, even if it is just a share.

Help Kristi and Tracy get to New Jersey

At this point, our move pretty much hinges on the money we get from this page. Apparently, I've gotten to the point of begging.

I hope y'all don't mind me venting a little. It seems to be cathartic.

I feel like the whole world is conspiring against us. It seems that we just can't catch a break recently. First, my hubby's hours are cut at work, then it takes me forever to find a job and when I do, it's only part time, and then my hours are cut back a lot. Our parents have helped where they can, but it's getting harder and harder for them to do so. Then, the incident other night happened that I talked about in my last post. Now, my car is starting to run hot, and I'm worried now that it'll start overheating on me. It is 17 years old, so not totally unexpected that it'll start having issues, but now is possibly the worst time for it.

On top of all that, we are trying to plan this move to New Jersey, and there is just no money. We can't figure it out. Our last hope was the GoFundMe page that my mom set up, but it kinda fell flat and we only got a small fraction of what we were hoping for. Truthfully, we weren't expecting to get the full amount, but we were hoping for a little more. Here's the link again if anyone wants to take a look.

Help me and my hubby move to New Jersey

I just really wish that the whole world didn't revolve around money. Sure would make things much easier. Why can't we live in the Star Trek universe?

I have been contemplating all day whether to post about this or not. I decided, for my own sanity, to post it.

Last night, around 9:30 I think, I was in my bathroom and heard a small tap from the window (which is small and about 8 feet off the ground). I looked up and noticed the top half of a cell phone (the camera lens) pointed into my bathroom. It took me a moment to realize what it was, because it was so unexpected. It disappeared shortly after.

At first, I was angry and I wanted to run out and try to catch whoever it was. My hubby stopped me though, and called the sheriff's office. They sent a deputy right over. He looked around and noticed that there were some cinder blocks that had been stacked under my window. Even so, it still would have been quite a reach to get to the window. He said that he didn't see anything, but that he would do a foot patrol, and then for the next several nights, they would have deputies do foot patrols through the area to see if they can catch someone.

As soon as he left, my hubby covered the window with tin foil, and he moved the cinder blocks away from the back of the apartment.

It wasn't until this morning that it really hit me what had happened. I called management and wasn't able to speak to the landlord, but I left a message with the receptionist detailing everything that happened. She said that she would get him the message immediately and that he would call me back. My hubby called about an hour later and told me that he had also called and that the landlord was going to call me. Guess what?! He never called! This doesn't actually surprise me, but that's a whole other can of worms that I'd rather not get into right now.

My hubby is going to keep calling until something is done. The deputy mentioned how dark it is back there, and "recommended" that there needed to be more light back there.

I then told some of my neighbors that I'm friendly with. I think it was the repeated rehashing of events that really made it hit home what had happened. I started to wonder:

- How long has this been going on?
- Were they taking photos or video?
- What has happening to the photos/video?
- What have they seen me doing?

I'm really freaked out and upset. I could barely concentrate on anything today. When my hubby finally got home from work today, I started crying. I'd held it in most of the day. He has been so great through this.

I really hope they find who it was. I always thought I was safe here, but now, I don't feel so safe anymore.