update

Wow, I have gotten pretty horrible at updating this! The not-so-good-news; I was laid-off a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I worked for a small privately owned company, and when the times got tough instead of tightening the belts, they cut-cut-cut. I had thought they were great people who would take care of me, but I was wrong. As soon as I got the news I went to sign up for a Nurses Aide class. I was a CNA in college, and there are 3 major hospitals in Lexington, so it just made sense. Unfortunately it cost $500, which was a steep price to pay with my income coming to an end. I was out of work for a week then started the 2 week intensive class. I had applied for unemployment in the mean-time, but was dealt a rough blow with that. Since I was taking a class full-time for two weeks (to get a job) I was denied unemployment. I can't understand this. If I were to sit in my butt and do nothing, I am eligible for unemployment. If I take a class to get a job, I am not. To make matters worse, three of the girls in my class were taking it through unemployment. Unemployment paid for them to take the class. When I asked about this at the unemployment office I was told that there was a process I had to go through in order to do this. Since I didn't sit on my butt and wait for the checks to roll in before I signed up for the class, I lose out. What made it all the more insulting was going to the unemployment office after doing clinical all day, still in my scrubs, tired and hungry, only to watch people walk in, high-five their friends and talk on their phones about getting their money. Argh! However, I finished my class yesterday and am now a CNA. I have to take the state boards to become a State Registered Nurse's Aide, but I have already started the job hunt. I actually started the job hunt as soon as I was let go, but now I have kicked it into full speed. I applied to 7 jobs yesterday, I already have one interview next week (not CNA related). This has been a hard couple of weeks for me, but hopefully it will be over soon! I hate worrying about money, I hate not having any, but I always seem to fund a way to make ends meet.

On the happier side, I joined the local roller derby league; Rollergirls Of Central Kentucky (or ROCK). I joined just before I lost my job, but it really has been a God-send since. The girls on the team are amazing, I have found a fantastic group of women who I get to see at practice and get away from all the stress of the job hunt. I am not skating yet, I don't have the money to get my equipment and skates, but I go to the practices, help set up the track, learn the game and he rules and watch it all. I have a derby name - Salem Slammah, and I think my number is going to be 93. I am eager to get my gear and get on the floor. It such a fantastic way to escape everything going on! Alison loves it, not only are there other kids to play with (many single moms on the team), but it is like she just inherited 10 aunts (even if they do have crazy names). The women come from every walk of life and background; Junk Drawer is a math TA at UK, Rainbow Smite runs the honors program at UK, Ellie Slay is a patent rep at UK, Sharon Moonshine is a real estate agent, Bitty Bastard has a son who just turned 27, Kitty O'Doom works at UK, Jessie Maims is a student at Translyvania and Ragdoll Ruby is a skate rep. There are two other Ashland Moms on the team, Bjoink has a 5th grader and Scare-a has a kindergartener and is on the PTA with me! I will post some pictures when I get them.

Alison is doing amazing. She has one of the strictest teachers at Ashland, and is of course flourishing. At first she was scared, but once we talked to the teacher and she got to know her, she just loves it. She is reading well above her grade level, her teacher said about a 4th-8th grade level, and her math scores are even higher! She loves the after-school program. During my CNA class I was getting out early and was able to pick her up early. She asked me to stop coming early. She is in Brownies and LOVES it. A born Girl Scout just like the rest of the women in the family. She is old enough to acolyte at church. She hasn't served yet, but she goes to the trainings and will be soon! As for the trainings, the acolyte leader at the church had to go back to work because of the economy, and our minister asked my cousin Lorie and I to "help out" (take over). Lorie is actually my mom's cousin, but she loves to have family in the area and has really taken care of me, and her daughter Sara is a few years older than Alison and they are very close.

I will try to be a little better at updating this in the future! Here are some pictures of Ali...

Here is Alison and Sara in a hot-air balloon gondola at our church festival. They were unable to actually go up in it because it got dark out, but they got to watch it get inflated and then get into the gondola.

I love this picture. This is Ali and Charlie, a boy from church in the gondola. They were sitting in there when they fired up the flame to heat the air in the balloon. The look on their faces is priceless.

This is Alison with some of the acolytes and our Bishop, Stacy Sauls at an acolyte event. Top row; Lauryn, Bishop Sauls, Kaelyn, bottom row; Emily, Alison and Erica

Ali in her Brownie uniform!

Ali carving a pumpkin. She did all of the work this Halloween!!