DDA Chapter 22

[tinker1bell]

Denise, your trip sounds like so much fun. As Elin said, you have so many choices. Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Philadelphia.


Not that we would want to interfere!!! but some of us DDA folks talked about a meet in Phila. They have the Ducks there!!!

 

[tinknme]

Good morning

 

[Blueeyes101817]

morning!!!!!!!!

 

[PNO4TE]

Good morning, DDA!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Debbie,,,here is hoping things will calm down for you and your family.

That trip sounds like fun.

Debbie, I am sorry DH's job is so hectic right now! I hope things settle down soon!

DH worked 30 days in a row one time. ONE time. Not having any days off really takes a toll. He thought it would be easier to run the route himself all those days so he wouldn't have other people messing things up, but he was exhausted by the end.

Good morning, DDA!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I could use a little spare Pixie Dust this way, DH is so fed up with his job right now I'm afraid he may give up his position. With the exception of our three night trip to Disney in August he's had two days off since July 5th, and he's worn out with no real end in sight. I know we should be grateful that he has a job, and we are, but if he steps down it will mean a substantial pay cut and I'm not sure how we'll manage with our current budget. I just pray that things calm down so the stress level will drop.

Bernadette - our plans right now are to bring Aubrey to Disney when she's three, there will be eight of us and we are considering renting a house with at least four bedrooms, a private pool, hot tub and grill. We would all go to a park in the morning and stay until lunch time, DH and I would bring Aubrey back to the house for a nap and then probably stay there and let her play in the pool and have dinner there. Brandon will have his choice to stay with us or go with the others. Of course this is in the early planning stage, we'll have to see what the future brings.

Yikes! Poor Richie and you! Do they pay him overtime? Not that it is worth the money to work those kind of hours. If they don't pay him overtime I don't know how legal that is. There are laws about who has to get paid overtime. My husband used to work at a garden center. He worked liked six 12 hour days in the summer and then the owner had a snow plow business in the winter and ended up working more than 40 hours most weeks then too. He got paid for 40 hours because they said they would pay him for 40 hours all year long. They were shocked when he quit-they are lucky he didn't listen to me and call the labor board as what they were doing wasn't legal. Then he went to work someplace that paid him for 40 hours in a check and the "overtime" in cash-but not at time & a half. DH hated that because that isn't legal. Can Richie just tell them he can't/won't continue to work those hours? Hope he can find some way to stop this madness!

Yay for a trip with Aubrey. If you go just before she's 3 you wouldn't have to buy her an admission ticket or pay for her at character meals.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The overtime rules only apply to hourly employees, though. For salaried employees as long as they are making minimum wage for the hours they work they don't have any recourse.

DH makes 1/4 time for hours over 40, which is better than nothing but nowhere NEAR time and a half! If he works more than 5 days in a week there is a flat rate pay differential for each extra day. He is technically salaried (plus commission) so they don't HAVE TO pay him anything for the extra hours.

 

[Tammi67]

Good morning.

Debbie - here's lots of for you and Richie. I can't imagine working that much with no time off!

I'm another fan of satellite radio, only I have Sirius. I've had it for about 4 years now and with as much as I'm in my car, I don't know what I would do without it.

Tonight is open house at school. The kids are excited to go see their teachers and classrooms. I must admit, I'm a little excited too. :

 

[bethbuchall]

Beth, I agree with what has been said here. Yes it would be sad to leave, but kids move up a class every year and change teachers every year. You have to do what is best for you.

Here at the rec our preschoolers have the same teachers for the two or three years they are in our preschool. When the one teacher left, the kids adjusted to the change quite well. Kids are more resilient than we give them credit for.

Yes, I guess if I really think about it, I'm being selfish. I do love the kids, but I am honestly more worried about what the families will think of me for leaving. I haven't even met more than half of this years' kids yet. Also, there is nothing open in any of the preschools around here, so I won't be working with the age group that I like best. I didn't realize how much of this was "about me" until I started thinking about it.

Beth - Sorry you're having to go through this.

I could use a little spare Pixie Dust this way, DH is so fed up with his job right now I'm afraid he may give up his position. With the exception of our three night trip to Disney in August he's had two days off since July 5th, and he's worn out with no real end in sight. I know we should be grateful that he has a job, and we are, but if he steps down it will mean a substantial pay cut and I'm not sure how we'll manage with our current budget. I just pray that things calm down so the stress level will drop.

Bernadette - our plans right now are to bring Aubrey to Disney when she's three, there will be eight of us and we are considering renting a house with at least four bedrooms, a private pool, hot tub and grill. We would all go to a park in the morning and stay until lunch time, DH and I would bring Aubrey back to the house for a nap and then probably stay there and let her play in the pool and have dinner there. Brandon will have his choice to stay with us or go with the others. Of course this is in the early planning stage, we'll have to see what the future brings.

that things settle down soon! That sounds exhausting.

Your Disney plans, however, sound wonderful!

Beth - you know what you have to do. You have gotten good advice. I hope you find something that will allow you to leave the wretched position you are in now.

I never thought I would feel this way, but I love having my XM radio in my car. I forked out the $$ for the next 3 years and never even thought about it. I love that choices!

You are right. I know what I have to do. I cannot leave this job without finding a new one, but I will start looking for a new one. And then when I find something that is better for me and my family, I will leave even if it means saying goodbye to the kids and parents. And even if I think it will hurt J. She's the reason I didn't apply for the other aide positions when I should have. She practically begged me to stay. Of course, that was before I figured all the salary mess out.

The overtime rules only apply to hourly employees, though. For salaried employees as long as they are making minimum wage for the hours they work they don't have any recourse.

DH makes 1/4 time for hours over 40, which is better than nothing but nowhere NEAR time and a half! If he works more than 5 days in a week there is a flat rate pay differential for each extra day. He is technically salaried (plus commission) so they don't HAVE TO pay him anything for the extra hours.

Yep. Back when dh started at IBM, everyone started as an hourly employee for x number of months. Then they had a review and were either made a salaried employee or let go. After a stretch of a couple of weeks that he put in a lot of overtime on a project, he was suddenly made a salaried worker early, and it was retroactive to when the overtime began.

 

[bethbuchall]

Good morning.

Debbie - here's lots of for you and Richie. I can't imagine working that much with no time off!

I'm another fan of satellite radio, only I have Sirius. I've had it for about 4 years now and with as much as I'm in my car, I don't know what I would do without it.

Tonight is open house at school. The kids are excited to go see their teachers and classrooms. I must admit, I'm a little excited too. :

My brother has some sort of satellite radio in his car. He drives a lot for work and says that he doesn't know what he did before he had it. I don't spend enough time in my car (thank goodness!) to even consider it.

Have fun at open house! My kids start one week from yesterday, but we don't have open house until after school starts. The high school schedules aren't here yet, and Laura is getting anxious. I called the guidance office and she said that there were being mailed yesterday and today. That won't leave time for schedule correction before school starts, so I hope it's all correct. Miles received his teacher letter last week, but he hasn't found anyone in his class yet. We have a small elementary school with three classes at his grade level, though, so he will know pretty much everyone in his class even if they aren't his closest friends. Also, the entire grade eats lunch and has recess together. I can't believe that my last is in his last year of elementary school. This will be my 14th year at that school. So much has changed since the older kids went through, though. I can see the dumbing down of education and "teaching to the test" in action in our district.

 

[bethbuchall]

I also wanted to let you know that I have started making lists of all that I do at the preschool that I am now going to be splitting with my co-teacher, including monthly calendars, monthly newsletters, project prep, coordinating/collecting/copying themed coloring pages, etc. I don't want to be rude or petty about it, but I will ask her to take every other month on these things and have her take more of a lead on theme and project planning as well. It will be good for both of us, and I feel that some burden has been lightened. Last year, I think that she felt that she did half of these things, because she does the great majority for the 3-day class, since that teacher was new. They will have to figure out on their own how to best split the work for that class, but the 2-day class is going to have to have a more even split of duties.

 

[babytrees]

Good Morning DDA!!

Beth-I am glad you are taking steps to even out the duties.

Debbie-I am sorry that Ritchie's schedule is so hectic...I hope it slows down soon.

 

[Tammi67]

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/20700998/detail.html

Bonehead.

 

[Glynis]

Debbie - I'm sending tons of pixie dust for Ritchie! I'm so sorry that he is being taken advantage of. On the bright side, your future trip with Aubrey sounds wonderful!!!

Deb - Your port day sounds awesome! Can't wait to hear more!

Tammi - Bonehead is right! What an idiot!

Beth - I'll pray that something comes along so you can leave that job! Good luck with the school schedules. I hope it all works out for your kids!

Elin - Your talking about Fredricksburg makes me want to visit! I hope that someday that happens.

Today is a great day here! I'm hosting book club tonight, so I'm getting the house ready and baking up a storm. I'm serving a raspberry coconut cake, a caramel apple bundt cake, lemonade, and possibly some cookies. Not sure about that, yet. The house is clean, and the coconut cake is out of the oven and smelling divine! Next up is a trip to the store for a new tablecloth since Alan ruined my old one!

Tomorrow is the first day of league bowling for me, and I can't wait! I'm sure I will be horrible, as I didn't bowl all summer long, but oh well! I'm still excited for it to start!

 

[tinknme]

Debbie - I'm sending tons of pixie dust for Ritchie! I'm so sorry that he is being taken advantage of. On the bright side, your future trip with Aubrey sounds wonderful!!!

Deb - Your port day sounds awesome! Can't wait to hear more!

Tammi - Bonehead is right! What an idiot!

Beth - I'll pray that something comes along so you can leave that job! Good luck with the school schedules. I hope it all works out for your kids!

Elin - Your talking about Fredricksburg makes me want to visit! I hope that someday that happens.

Today is a great day here! I'm hosting book club tonight, so I'm getting the house ready and baking up a storm. I'm serving a raspberry coconut cake, a caramel apple bundt cake, lemonade, and possibly some cookies. Not sure about that, yet. The house is clean, and the coconut cake is out of the oven and smelling divine! Next up is a trip to the store for a new tablecloth since Alan ruined my old one!

Tomorrow is the first day of league bowling for me, and I can't wait! I'm sure I will be horrible, as I didn't bowl all summer long, but oh well! I'm still excited for it to start!

Ditto, thank you Glynis!

Sounds like a delightfully busy day & evening at your house today! Have fun bowling tomorrow, I am sure you will do great

 

[lovesdumbo]

The overtime rules only apply to hourly employees, though. For salaried employees as long as they are making minimum wage for the hours they work they don't have any recourse.

DH makes 1/4 time for hours over 40, which is better than nothing but nowhere NEAR time and a half! If he works more than 5 days in a week there is a flat rate pay differential for each extra day. He is technically salaried (plus commission) so they don't HAVE TO pay him anything for the extra hours.

But you can't just call someone a salaried employee so you don't have to pay overtime. There are rules about that-but some employers just don't care and you really can't fight it without challenging them legally which would result in loosing your job so they know you're stuck.....

I'm another fan of satellite radio, only I have Sirius. I've had it for about 4 years now and with as much as I'm in my car, I don't know what I would do without it.

Tonight is open house at school. The kids are excited to go see their teachers and classrooms. I must admit, I'm a little excited too. :

I'm sure by the end of my 3 months I won't want to live without it.

Tonight sound fun! I wish our schools would do that.

Yes, I guess if I really think about it, I'm being selfish. I do love the kids, but I am honestly more worried about what the families will think of me for leaving. I haven't even met more than half of this years' kids yet. Also, there is nothing open in any of the preschools around here, so I won't be working with the age group that I like best. I didn't realize how much of this was "about me" until I started thinking about it.

I don't see as selfish at all. It should be all about you and yours!

Today is a great day here! I'm hosting book club tonight, so I'm getting the house ready and baking up a storm. I'm serving a raspberry coconut cake, a caramel apple bundt cake, lemonade, and possibly some cookies. Not sure about that, yet. The house is clean, and the coconut cake is out of the oven and smelling divine! Next up is a trip to the store for a new tablecloth since Alan ruined my old one!

Tomorrow is the first day of league bowling for me, and I can't wait! I'm sure I will be horrible, as I didn't bowl all summer long, but oh well! I'm still excited for it to start!

YUM!!!!! Have a great night! Enjoy bowling!

 

[bethbuchall]

Debbie - I'm sending tons of pixie dust for Ritchie! I'm so sorry that he is being taken advantage of. On the bright side, your future trip with Aubrey sounds wonderful!!!

Deb - Your port day sounds awesome! Can't wait to hear more!

Tammi - Bonehead is right! What an idiot!

Beth - I'll pray that something comes along so you can leave that job! Good luck with the school schedules. I hope it all works out for your kids!

Elin - Your talking about Fredricksburg makes me want to visit! I hope that someday that happens.

Today is a great day here! I'm hosting book club tonight, so I'm getting the house ready and baking up a storm. I'm serving a raspberry coconut cake, a caramel apple bundt cake, lemonade, and possibly some cookies. Not sure about that, yet. The house is clean, and the coconut cake is out of the oven and smelling divine! Next up is a trip to the store for a new tablecloth since Alan ruined my old one!

Tomorrow is the first day of league bowling for me, and I can't wait! I'm sure I will be horrible, as I didn't bowl all summer long, but oh well! I'm still excited for it to start!

Thanks, Glynis!

Do you have the recipes already posted somewhere for the raspberry coconut cake and the caramel apple bundt cake? Those sound wonderful!

I need to bake a couple of batches of cookies for the first pasta dinner of the cross country season tomorrow. I think I've decided on peanut butter kiss cookies and snickerdoodles. Those always go over well. I'm just glad that I don't have to host one this year (tradition is that seniors host). I think there are 73 runners. My house isn't big enough for even half that!

 

[my3princes]

Beth - Sorry you're having to go through this.

I could use a little spare Pixie Dust this way, DH is so fed up with his job right now I'm afraid he may give up his position. With the exception of our three night trip to Disney in August he's had two days off since July 5th, and he's worn out with no real end in sight. I know we should be grateful that he has a job, and we are, but if he steps down it will mean a substantial pay cut and I'm not sure how we'll manage with our current budget. I just pray that things calm down so the stress level will drop.

Bernadette - our plans right now are to bring Aubrey to Disney when she's three, there will be eight of us and we are considering renting a house with at least four bedrooms, a private pool, hot tub and grill. We would all go to a park in the morning and stay until lunch time, DH and I would bring Aubrey back to the house for a nap and then probably stay there and let her play in the pool and have dinner there. Brandon will have his choice to stay with us or go with the others. Of course this is in the early planning stage, we'll have to see what the future brings.

I hope that things get better

 

[Tammi67]

Have fun at open house! My kids start one week from yesterday, but we don't have open house until after school starts.

We always have open house the Thursday before school starts. It gives the kids a chance to see their classroom and classmates and meet the teacher. It also gives parents a chance to fill out paperwork, add money to lunch accounts, sign up for PTA, buy school spirit stuff. The best part is that we can take all the school supplies and drop them off, instead of the kids having to haul everything in on the bus the first day of school. We have Back to School night a few weeks AFTER school starts.

 

[bethbuchall]

We always have open house the Thursday before school starts. It gives the kids a chance to see their classroom and classmates and meet the teacher. It also gives parents a chance to fill out paperwork, add money to lunch accounts, sign up for PTA, buy school spirit stuff. The best part is that we can take all the school supplies and drop them off, instead of the kids having to haul everything in on the bus the first day of school. We have Back to School night a few weeks AFTER school starts.

Great idea! I guess ours is more of a Back to School night than an Open House despite the name. At the elementary level, it used to be with the kids. The kids would introduce you to their teachers and show you around the school. Now the kids are not to attend, and the teachers give a little curriculum talk (very general...15-20 minutes) plus you can go see the other areas (music, PE, art, computers). PTA and some of the other activities have tables, too. At the middle and high schools, students are not forbidden, but I think they are encouraged to stay home. We actually follow the complete schedule with about 10 minutes for each teacher to go over general curriculum, classroom rules, etc.