I have really gotten away from the stock market, was an obsession for a few years. I guess I got bored or maybe it was all the (false) optimism all day on CNBC.

Well we bought a house and are moving in (slow process). Emily loves the screen porch and fenced yard, the cat is still traumatized by all of this. House is only a little bigger then my condo was but it feels huge to me, maybe the layout and garage. Rick and I went to get outside garbage cans and other "house" needs, I forgot about alll of that! He has to clean out the gutters, also new to me:)

Close today (I think)

Update, buyers are approved by HUD for FHA. New problem, the appraisal done in July has the WRONG address and is invalid, must be re-done-jeezzz

No close

Okay so new date 10/13, what a mess real estate has become. I am stuck in NJ

Getting close

Well we should close 9/15. CO done, we fixed what the buyer's inspector wanted fixed, and have been slowly packing. Lot's of stuff to good will and in the dumpster. I have 2 TV's I can't give away, maybe I can call Habititat for Humanity, they might want them. Taking very little as far as furniture, a couple tables. Our tomato plant got eaten by "tomato worms", we see it as a learning experience. We didn't see them until it was too late, they are the exact color of the leaves!

Okay I have negelcted this site way too long. I have been very busy with training sessions and meetings, too many e-mail accounts to check, too many papers to grade, too much time on this computer! House is under contract! Getting ready to get that farm in Florida. I have been reading up on vegetables in zone 9, ready made chicken coups (Rooster or no rooster is a hot debate!), and even perhaps hogs (???)

Volusia Blues

Apparently Volusia County invited over 700 teachers. I interviewed with four schools, it felt like speed dating. I am disappointed however very busy with the on-line school pursuits. It may well be I am destined to teach on-line only, sigh, but better then being unhappy. And with the economy what it is I think on-line education will grow.

Florida Move

I was invited to a teacher job fair in Volusia County Florida! Invitation only so chances are good. We are flying this time, for obvious reasons:) Wish me luck!
I also want to say to all my readers (Hi Bill) that you should never feel stuck in a job because of health insurance. I got a very reasonable policy, high co-pays but hey I am covered in the event of serious illness. It can be done! Life is too short, stay in school, increase your options and follow your heart.

New School New Class

I will be teaching Micro Economics over the summer for a school in California. This is getting very interesting.

Drive to Florida

Wow what a trip! never drive to Florida during Spring break, we ran into parking lot conditions on 95 OFTEN. Also, my brake pads went after slamming on the brakes before one such parking lot. Here we are, I believe exit 42 in SC, none of those exits with hotels, restaurants and gas stations. Just a little white sign for a town called Yemassee, we pull off and proceed to try to find Yemassee. The brakes are squealing, nothing in sight, oh my. We see a sign for the town, 6 miles ahead, no clue what to expect. Town is coming up, we see a large sign for used cars, Rick pulls in to see what he can see although he knows little about cars. Although we cannot see through all the cars, guess what else this used car lot is? You got it, a GARAGE! The garage owner, also 12 years the mayor of Yemassee, has us pull right in, has the brake pads for a 1998 GMC Jimmy on site, and fixes us up in about an hours time. From what we learned later we were charged a normal amount, no gauging, and we were treated with much kindness. Thank you Mayor of Yemassee!
We heard interesting tidbits about the town, how the main road is an alternate to 95 and when 95 backs up the local police make tons of money pulling over all the out of towners coming through. You see the speed limit is 35 and most people have been flying down 95, the garage owner and his mechanic relayed that some days the police wrote 30 tickets in an hour. Anyway sometimes on has to wonder about how things turn out, we felt very fortunate.
I need a realtor, anyone know one?

Well I completed another lesson yesterday, State and Federal Taxes. It isn't easy to make a complicated subject simple and at a sixth grade reading level, but it is getting easier. Then I have to shift gears and communicate with undergraduate students and not appear condescending. My Colorado students are catching up, they are really sweet, I just think more discussion is needed. It is difficult when you did not design the class, especially when you had little time to explore the class before it started. In all I am finally starting to establish a schedule that doesn't involve jumping from one thing to the other, not easy when you have ADD, but getting there. Working from home takes some discipline, in my case remembering to stop and eat can be a challenge!

I took the plunge! Life is short and I never planned on sitting at a desk all of my life. With so many on-line teaching opportunities I think it will all turn out okay. You reach a certain age and have to make a decision one way or the other about the rest of your life!

Today's Meanderings

Hello all, I mean Bill, what's the latest in academia, the title world, Florida moves etc.? Oh wait that's all me, how would anyone else know? If I don't know, why would anyone know? Seriously I am staying home to clean my house and will be returning calls about the sale, time to step up! Of course Volusia County has no teaching jobs listed, I e-mailed and they said they had none to list, 2 weeks ago they were anticipating 500 openings, I am very confused. Of course on the online teaching front I am swamped, completely. I have to write curriculum for a new school, the class is started, and I am thoroughly confused. That's okay I love a challenge and the dare, I'll just have to clear my schedule and get serious.

Well everyone, I mean Bill, hope you survive the snow hurricane okay. Get the groceries in tonight!

Oops, it appears the ethics board idea did not fly well with the new Republican majority, it was disbanded in January. The democrats put it together in November so, well you know how that goes.

Ethics Training

As I teach a class on ethics I found an article in the paper today very interesting. It appears the State of New Jersey has decided to mandate ethics training, including conflict of interest issues, to try to rein in the ridiculous amount of corruption in our government. They also created an ethics board in December. So previously there was no need for ethics training? Why is this State, one of the original colonies (well with a different name) so behind the rest of the Country in so many ways? It appears those arrested in 2005 are so sorry, and perhaps did not know bribes were not a good idea, we should have given them proper training! Ah well, at least now we can say we TOLD them it was wrong.

I am posting something new as I was recently informed that there are rules to this stuff, my goodness what is wrong with me:)

Ethics in Top jobs

Oh my, Geithner may have kept secrets? Money unaccounted for? My what a surprise.

2010 To Do's

Let's see, populate this blog perhaps? I am thinking of posting curriculum but I am done with Voc and my current students are all on-line, materials there already! Okay, move to DeLand Florida and stop talking about it all the time! What else?

Toyota Re-Call

Well it looks like years do not matter, Toyota didn't study Ford? How come J&J decided to take a different route when they behaved so well last time? The economy? J&J said this time it was simply a little nausea, not life threatening, great PR guys!