The Lifegaurd Shortage.

 Sitting outside during a heatwave, well now in my car polluting the world with an AC that can barely keep up.  Waiting for my fourth to complete his test for Nassau County lifeguarding.  These last two tests (Christopher and Mark) have taken hours.  But we are done for this year we now have 3 active fully certified lifeguards and one retired lifeguard.  They don't make it easy that's for sure. First the Red Cross class (300.00) Then the Nassau County test (100.00) and inconveniently the Nassau County lifeguard office is open from 9 to 4, which you must go to o schedule the test.  And because it is a government office the website was never updated and though it states check and money orders only, it actually credit card only, and due to Covid (summer of 22') no parents are allowed in, so off your teen goes with his inexperienced driving trying to get there by closing and shows up with a check and is kicked out and cannot schedule the test.   You need a physical for Nassau County with a eye and hearing exam, and Chris had already aged out of the pediatrician, you can't see a regular doctor for months and a work related physical at urgent care cost 280.00!   But the long and annoying journey is done for now and they are out there earning the big bucks now....

So to get my kids certified it cost 

1200 for classes

50 for physical (we found an urgent care that didn't bill it as work related)

400.00 in test fees

grand total 1,650. 

They earn 17.00 an hour. They will work a little more than 23 hours to earn back the cost of certification.  Amazon Fresh starts at 16.75 per hour, no hours training No 20 hour class to attend on your free time.  Its really not hard to figure out why there is a lifeguard shortage!

winter vacation

Okay!  I can get the pictures off my phone and onto my blog!  I know facebook is the way to go these days, but this blog is written for you, my kids.  The written word can really help us feel and remember what the experience was.  Dad is documenting memories on facebook.
So I woke up this morning at the end of vacation.  My mind flew to what I had not gotten done, the miles that I didn't run, the work that is incomplete.  But hold- up, let us review the things that did get done
We started with a beautiful Sunday when Winston came to visit and our first game of week Mexican Train. The yard is much cleaner
Monday was to grants tomb and the cloisters a beautiful day ending with wits and wagers, and I snuck in 5 miles
Tuesday was Dave and Busters with Aunt Ruth!  followed by Boy scouts! and another 5 miles!
Wed Teddy Roosevelt's house and my breakfast with Mindy.
Thursday was dermatologist, hair cuts and dentist, tennis  followed by Balderdash,
Friday..boo tooth pulled, kitchen cleaned 3 miles run, models, gifts, tennis is a bust, settlers of catan
Saturday nails and fantastic family party!  finished caftan and scary, scary movie!
in between an hour of work, pedicure and getting this crazy blog rolling complete with pictures!
More than anything was great times with you my family.  I love you all your awesomeness is awesome!  more to come.

A foriegn exchange studet? Are you crazy?

Ok, so some things have changed since this picture was taken some 8 years ago. Part of my reason for not blogging the incredible journey of this family was because I couldn't even access this account.  And forget getting pictures off of my phone or camera.  But maybe I can just do it.

Steve points out that today we sent three "senior" off to school.  The triplets are off to 5th grade, Mark dutifully handing me a thermometor to just make sure he wasn't too sick to attend.  The twins to 8th grade and Martina our newest member to her senior year of high school.

The summer had some highlights and some serious lowlights.  With the lows setting the mood for the house.  Taking on a foriegn exchange student may not have been a direct answer to this sadness, but I do think it factored in.

Preparing for Martina's arrival I at first kept it a low profile, because I though so many people would say "what are your crazy?" and for good reason.  I complain about work, taking classes and running the kids around, so what is the upside of taking on more?   Well honestly I would complain if all I had to do was lounge around the house all day eating those proverbial bon-bons..so I don't feel that the amount I complain can't be a good litmus test for descisions.

The family was on board so we wanted to try.  I like to take things on, to run the 10k, to try to learn to sew, to go on that vacation and climb that mountain.  Why? because it is there to be done.  I think I did get lucky however. Has the days counted down to arrival I had my doubts and my lost sleep..why did I do this? I know if she is a mess, it will be my fault and my fault alone, no one would want to hear my complaints they would just roll there eyes and say "what an idiot, I would have never put my family in this position"

Never having spoken to her, never. We went to pick her up on a Friday night. I stepped forward and hugged her, becuase if I was nervous how must she feel?  Then we all in turn hugged her. We were all nervous, but we plowed through and even the kids felt at ease on the ride home and were able to speak to her and Cara gave her a beanie boo that matched hers, so fast friends were made.

I think the idea is to look at this in two ways...either this is crazy to take on more work/potential problems, or this will be such a great experience for your family.  But I think at the end it is both potential problems and more work as well as a great experience.  But really isn't almost everything you take on, more work and possible a good experience?

Happy Birthday Justine! at OneTrueMedia.com

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Myrtle Beach 2007 at OneTrueMedia.com

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Camping June 2007 at OneTrueMedia.com

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My Montage 7/15/07 at OneTrueMedia.com

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